Facts We Didn’t Know About Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday, and it’s no secret that we all love to indulge in our favorite frozen treat on this very important day. Let’s look back…
National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday, and it's no secret that we all love to indulge in our favorite frozen treat on this very important day. Let's look back on the humble beginnings of one of the most beloved ice cream brands of all time. Ben & Jerry's. Not only did they create some of the most delicious flavors we know and love today, but they also did it while maintaining a super strong friendship. Read on for the inspiring story of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who turned a small Vermont ice cream shop into a super tasty nationwide name, and check out some fun facts we never knew about the brand and duo.
It began back in 1978 when childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decided to open their ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont. They decided on an old gas station as a location and invested only $12,000 to make their dream a reality. Their original flavor was... any guesses? Vanilla. Classic. The second flavor they made was cookie dough just because of a suggestion from one of the customers at their first shop. And from there they just went crazy creating legendary flavors like Cherry Garcia and my personal favorite, Chunky Monkey.
Even though Ben & Jerry became so successful they never lost sight of their roots – the Ben & Jerry's brand has always been associated with social justice and activism. They've always been outspoken about their causes, like advocating for equal rights for LGBTQ community and racial injustices. The company has even launched a number of programs aimed at supporting family farmers and fighting climate change. Their commitment to giving back to their community is one of the reasons why the brand is so loved.
A lot of the time success and money can ruin a relationship. But Ben and Jerry have stood by each other and kept their friendship alive and strong. Insisting on making all decisions together.
Another aspect that fueled Ben & Jerry's success was their playful sense of humor. They had a special “flavor graveyard” where retired flavors were laid to rest with hysterical gravestones. This type of branding helped them stand out while not taking themselves too seriously.
So on National Ice Cream Day, let us celebrate the sweet taste of summer by indulging in your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavors. The story of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield is not only a tribute to the power of friendship, but it’s also a testament to the power of using a business as a means to do good in the world. Ben & Jerry's is one of America’s favorite frozen treat brands and a true success story.
Check out the super fun, fun facts that we found on Ben & Jerry's website!
1. All of the conference rooms at Ben & Jerry’s headquarters are named after ice cream flavors.
2. Ben wanted to name their shop “Josephine’s Flying Machine,” Jerry didn’t like it and we agree
According to a history on Ben and Jerry's website, Ben wanted to name the business "Josephine's Flying machine." But, we're kind of happy that this name didn't stick.
3. To save time and money Jerry used to drop boxes of toffee from the top of a ladder to break them up for different flavors of ice cream
This is an interesting way to break up toffee pieces. Maybe I'll do this next time I'm making toffee cookies. It seems like it's a complete time save.
4. Between all of the different types of ice cream and yogurt that have carried there have been 43 flavors with ‘Vanilla’ in the name.
According to their website, the first flavor was actually vanilla! Plus, it's a staple in any ice cream lover's arsenal. Explore the plethora of flavors for yourself. I was actually surprised at a few of the flavor offerings because I haven't heard of many of them. I definitely want to try "Marshmallow sky" next.
5. There Is A Flavor Graveyard For Discontinued Flavors
"Even the best flavors melt away," the website states. WOW! I had no clue that this was even a things. There is a flavor graveyard where old flavors go to "die." You can actually vote to have one flavor come back to life. But, who knows when or IF the company would actually make this happen. Some of these flavors look amazing like the White Russian, Cool Britiannia (which is vanilla ice cream with strawberries and fudge covered shortbread) and Crème Brulee (which is Sweet custard ice cream with a caramelized sugar swirl). See the other flavors that are in the graveyard below!
6. Ben & Jerry originally wanted to get into the bagel business
Funny enough, Ben and Jerry actually had an idea to deliver bagels, loxs, cream cheese and the New York Times to customers. However, the duo found the the bagel-making equipment to be too expensive, according to its website.
7. There is a slide and tree house in the Ben & Jerry’s headquarters and employees can have 3 pints of ice cream for free each day.
I wish we had this in our radio station's building! But, I guess the stairs and elevator will have to do,
