Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's is a renowned ice cream company from the United States, founded in 1978 (approximately 46 years ago) by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Today, Rimping Supermarket invites you to delve into the story of this unique ice cream brand, celebrated for both its flavors and its social conscience.

The Start of a Friendship : From Failed Dreams to Sweet Ideas (1978 AD)

Ben and Jerry were childhood friends. After high school, they pursued their individual dreams; Ben attended several colleges but never found academic success, while Jerry, who pursued pre-med, also failed.

Consequently, in 1978, both in their 20s, they decided to go into business together. Initially, they intended to open a bagel shop but abandoned the idea due to the high cost of equipment. They then changed their minds and enrolled in an ice cream making course at Pennsylvania State University.

An Old Gas Station Becomes the First Homemade Ice Cream Shop (1978 AD)

After completing the course, they began searching for a location to open an ice cream shop. They found an old gas station in Burlington, Vermont. They then renovated the gas station with an investment of $12,000 USD (approximately 439,356 Baht), transforming it into their first homemade ice cream shop, named Ben & Jerry's after themselves.

Ben & Jerry's ice cream is known for its smooth texture. The first flavor sold in the shop was Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, packed with generous chunks of chocolate hidden within the ice cream.

The creation of such rich, loaded ice cream stemmed from Ben's health issue; he had a poor sense of taste and smell. Therefore, Jerry was determined to produce ice cream that Ben could truly experience in terms of taste and texture. This led to the creation of intensely flavored ice cream with abundant mix-ins, which became a favorite of many.

From Small Shop to National Phenomenon (1979 - 1981 AD)

After opening, their ice cream shop quickly became a hit. People from both within and outside the town flocked to their store. Initially, they only sold ice cream by the scoop in cups or cones; customers had to visit the shop to enjoy their ice cream.

On May 5, 1979, Ben & Jerry's celebrated its first anniversary by holding the very first Free Cone Day. On this day, they gave away free ice cream to everyone all day long. (Even today, on every anniversary, they continue to give away free ice cream worldwide.)

With increasing popularity, in 1980, Ben had the idea to package ice cream into pint containers, allowing them to consign their ice cream to grocery stores. Selling ice cream in pint containers also enabled them to sell larger quantities at a higher price.

Later, in 1981, Ben & Jerry's began expanding its franchise to surrounding towns, opening its first franchise in Shelburne, Vermont. This was met with overwhelming success, paving the way for the brand to become one of the top ice cream brands in the country.

More Than Just Ice Cream: A Dedication to Social Causes

What sets Ben & Jerry's apart from its competitors is its innovative approach to flavor creation and its dedication to social causes. This commitment starts with ingredients like vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, which the company mandates must be Fair Trade certified before being used in Ben & Jerrys ice cream. The reason for this policy is the brand's desire to ensure that purchased raw materials do not exploit or underpay the farmers who cultivate these ingredients.

Furthermore, the brownies in Ben & Jerrys ice cream are produced by Greyston Bakery, a bakery business under the non-profit organization Greyston. This organization has an "open hiring" policy, accepting employees without requiring any background checks, to provide opportunities for everyone in society to work there. Therefore, Ben & Jerrys purchasing brownies from this bakery helps these individuals earn income and reduces their burden on society.

In 1985, they established the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, dedicating 7.5% of pre-tax profits to fund social welfare projects. This initiative further solidified their reputation as a company deeply committed to social issues.

Additionally, they support various social causes through their ice cream flavors. For instance, they advocate for LGBTQ+ rights through their Empower Mint flavor. In 2009, the company collaborated with Freedom to Marry (an organization dedicated to achieving marriage equality for same-sex couples in the U.S.) by temporarily renaming their Chubby Hubby flavor to Hubby Hubby to celebrate the legalization of same-sex marriage in Vermont. They also changed the packaging of this flavor to feature two men getting married on the front of the pint.

Global Growth Under Unilever (2000 AD - Present)

In 2000, Ben & Jerrys was acquired by Unilever, a multinational Anglo-Dutch food giant. However, both founders continued to work for the company. Under Unilever's management, Ben & Jerry's has maintained its strong reputation. The company began exporting its products internationally to Europe, Asia, and South America (currently exporting to over 30 countries worldwide).

Today, Ben & Jerrys has become a globally renowned ice cream brand. Although managed by Unilever, the company remains committed to its long-standing production principles and management approach. They continue to produce a wide variety of ice cream flavors (currently over 60 flavors) using high-quality ingredients.