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Ben & Jerry's

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American ice-cream brand known for chunky, imaginative flavors and a long-standing commitment to social and environmental activism.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Ben & Jerry's is an American ice-cream company and globally recognized frozen-dessert brand founded by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in Burlington, Vermont, on May 5, 1978. The founders had initially considered opening a bagel shop, but the cost of commercial bagel equipment led them to study ice-cream making instead. They opened their first shop in a renovated gas station with a reported $12,000 investment and built the business around generous mix-ins, playful flavor names, and an informal, community-oriented identity. Cohen's limited sense of smell helped focus product development on texture and mouthfeel, contributing to the brand's characteristic use of substantial chunks, swirls, brownies, cookies, candies, and other inclusions. The company moved from scoop-shop retail into packaged pints in 1980 and began franchising in 1981. Its early expansion combined distinctive product innovation with unconventional marketing, including the Cowmobile touring vehicle, public events, free-scoop promotions, locally distinctive packaging artwork, and humor-driven advertising. Flavors such as Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Half Baked, and The Tonight Dough helped establish the brand's reputation for combining ice cream with recognizable cultural references and dessert-inspired ingredients. The company also expanded beyond traditional dairy ice cream into frozen yogurt, sorbet, non-dairy frozen desserts, single-serve products, cones, sandwiches, bars, and other novelties. Ben & Jerry's became particularly notable for treating corporate social responsibility as part of its business identity rather than as a separate philanthropic program. In the 1980s it opposed recombinant bovine growth hormone, created the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, and committed a share of annual pretax profits to community projects. The founders and the company later supported campaigns involving children's welfare, environmental protection, climate concerns, fair trade, racial justice, refugee support, peace initiatives, and other progressive causes. The brand's packaging, ingredient sourcing, public statements, advertising, and product launches have frequently been used to express political or social positions. That approach has strengthened loyalty among values-driven consumers while also exposing the company to criticism, boycotts, litigation, political pressure, and disagreements with corporate owners and local licensees. In 1984, Ben & Jerry's became a partially employee- and investor-owned public company through a Vermont-only stock offering that financed expansion. The company opened its Waterbury factory in 1985 and developed a public-tourism component around the site. It later became a multinational business with manufacturing and distribution operations in several countries. In April 2000, Ben & Jerry's agreed to be acquired by Unilever for $326 million. The acquisition agreement preserved a degree of organizational and mission-related independence, including an independent board charged with protecting the brand's social mission and integrity, while the founders remained associated with the company without retaining day-to-day operational control. During the Unilever era, Ben & Jerry's continued to launch mainstream and socially themed products, experiment with environmentally oriented packaging, expand non-dairy offerings, and conduct high-profile advocacy campaigns. It also faced disputes over distribution, the use of the brand in Israel and the Palestinian territories, alleged restrictions on public political expression, and claims that Unilever interfered with the brand's independent governance. In 2024, Unilever announced plans to separate its ice-cream business. Ownership of the ice-cream portfolio, including Ben & Jerry's, was transferred into The Magnum Ice Cream Company, with the separation from Unilever completed in 2025. Ben & Jerry's remains headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, with a major factory and visitor attraction in Waterbury. Its current commercial proposition combines premium ice cream and frozen desserts with distinctive flavor architecture, cultural collaborations, activist communications, and a stated mission centered on product quality, economic justice, social justice, and environmental responsibility.

History

Ben & Jerry's began in Burlington, Vermont, where childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield converted an unsuccessful bagel-shop idea into an ice-cream business. After taking a correspondence course in ice-cream production, they opened their first parlor in a renovated gas station on May 5, 1978. Their early product philosophy emphasized bold flavor combinations and a high density of mix-ins. Cohen's limited sense of smell made texture especially important to him, and the brand's chunks and swirls became central to its identity. The business first operated as a local scoop shop, but it began packing ice cream into pints in 1980 and opened its first franchise in 1981. Expansion was supported by unusual marketing and community events, including the first Free Cone Day in 1979, public celebrations, the Cowmobile roadshow, and an emphasis on Vermont-made identity. A Waterbury factory was built in 1985 and opened for public tours the following year. The factory became both a production center and a visible part of the company's brand experience. Ben & Jerry's developed a reputation for creative, culturally referential products. Cherry Garcia, introduced in 1987 as a tribute to Jerry Garcia, became the first major flavor named after a rock musician. Brownies supplied by Greyston Bakery helped inspire Chocolate Fudge Brownie, while other products drew on musicians, television personalities, comedians, public figures, and popular desserts. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, which originated from a consumer suggestion in the mid-1980s and later entered pint distribution, helped establish the commercial potential of substantial inclusions in packaged ice cream. The company also made social responsibility part of its formal business model. In 1985 it established the Ben & Jerry's Foundation and committed a portion of pretax profits to community-oriented work. It opposed recombinant bovine growth hormone, participated in children's advocacy, promoted environmental causes, and used product development and advertising to discuss public issues. Its activism was often deliberately humorous, as illustrated by the Cowmobile, the 'What's the Doughboy Afraid Of?' distribution campaign, the 2005 Baked Alaska protest against Arctic drilling, and the 2009 CyClone Dairy April Fool's campaign about traceability for products from cloned animals. In 1984, the company raised expansion capital through a Vermont-only public offering. It later became the target of acquisition interest and a grassroots 'Save Ben & Jerry's' campaign that sought to prevent control by a large multinational corporation. In April 2000, however, Ben & Jerry's was acquired by Unilever for $326 million. The founders remained connected to the business, but neither continued as its day-to-day operational leader. The acquisition agreement included commitments relating to the brand's social mission and an independent board intended to protect brand equity and integrity. The Unilever period brought international scale, additional manufacturing sites, new product categories, and continued advocacy. The company experimented with unbleached Eco-Pint packaging before abandoning it in 2006 because of supply, quality, and cost challenges. It expanded frozen yogurt, sorbet, and non-dairy offerings, including products made with alternative bases. In 2013, it committed to making products GMO-free in support of mandatory labeling. The brand also continued collaborations, including the Chunky Dunky Nike SB Dunk project in 2020. Political and legal disputes became increasingly prominent. In 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced that it would stop sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and would not renew its local franchise arrangement. Unilever later sold its Israeli business interest to the local licensee, creating a disagreement between the parent company and Ben & Jerry's independent board. Ben & Jerry's sued to block the transaction, but the parties moved toward mediation. The episode became one of the clearest tests of the relationship between the company's social mission, its board structure, local licensing, and corporate ownership. The company subsequently faced scrutiny over labor conditions in dairy supply chains and continued to promote climate and regenerative-agriculture projects such as Mootopia. In 2024, Unilever announced that it would separate its ice-cream business from the rest of the group. The portfolio, including Ben & Jerry's, was transferred to The Magnum Ice Cream Company during 2025. At the same time, Ben & Jerry's independent board alleged that Unilever had restricted political communications and retaliated against executives and directors because of the brand's activism. These allegations became subjects of litigation and public debate. Ben & Jerry's remains active as a premium global ice-cream brand, combining packaged frozen desserts and scoop-shop experiences with a distinctive activist identity.

  • 2025

    Ben & Jerry's becomes part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company

    [5]

    The ice-cream business separates from Unilever and Ben & Jerry's becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V.

  • 2024

    Unilever announces ice-cream separation

    [4]

    Unilever announces plans to separate its ice-cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, from the wider group.

  • 2023

    David Stever appointed CEO

    [1]

    David Stever becomes chief executive after Matthew McCarthy's retirement.

  • 2022

    Mootopia emissions pilot

    [6]

    Ben & Jerry's begins a 15-farm pilot focused on lowering dairy-farm emissions intensity through regenerative practices.

  • 2021

    Sales policy change in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

    [1]

    The company announces that it will not renew its local arrangement for sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

  • 2020

    Chunky Dunky Nike collaboration

    [10]

    Ben & Jerry's collaborates with Nike on a Chunky Dunky colorway of the SB Dunk Low sneaker.

  • 2013

    GMO-free commitment

    [1]

    Ben & Jerry's commits to making its products GMO-free in support of GMO-labeling legislation.

  • 2006

    Eco-Pint discontinued

    [1]

    The company reverses its Eco-Pint packaging decision because of supply, quality, and cost considerations.

  • 2001

    Eco-Pint transition completed in the United States

    [1]

    The U.S. business completes a move to unbleached paperboard pint containers.

  • 2000

    Acquisition by Unilever

    [1]

    Unilever acquires Ben & Jerry's for $326 million while agreeing to preserve elements of the company's social mission and independent identity.

Products and positioning

Premium, indulgent frozen desserts differentiated by large mix-ins, culturally themed flavors, playful branding, and values-led social and environmental positioning.

  • Dairy ice cream · 1980

    Core ice-cream pints

    The brand's best-known retail format consists of rich dairy ice cream combined with substantial chunks, swirls, sauces, cookies, brownies, candies, nuts, or other inclusions. Core products are sold in pint containers and are frequently organized around dessert themes, cultural references, or contrasting textures. Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, Phish Food, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Half Baked, and The Tonight Dough illustrate the format's emphasis on indulgence and recognizable flavor storytelling.

  • Plant-based frozen dessert · 2016

    Non-dairy frozen desserts

    Ben & Jerry's non-dairy line adapts the brand's chunky, heavily mixed-in product architecture to plant-based bases. The range has included flavors modeled on established dairy products as well as distinct recipes, allowing the company to serve consumers avoiding dairy or seeking plant-based alternatives without abandoning the brand's signature inclusions and indulgent positioning.

  • Frozen yogurt

    Frozen yogurt

    Frozen yogurt was part of Ben & Jerry's manufacturing and product portfolio from the company's early growth period. The products extended the brand into a tangier, yogurt-based frozen-dessert segment while retaining its use of inclusions and playful flavor names. The category has been less central to the contemporary portfolio than dairy ice cream and non-dairy products.

  • Sorbet

    Sorbet

    Ben & Jerry's has manufactured fruit-based sorbet as a dairy-free frozen-dessert option. Sorbet products broaden the portfolio beyond dairy and plant-based cream-style recipes, generally emphasizing fruit flavors and a lighter texture while maintaining the company's packaged-pint and scoop-shop distribution model.

  • Frozen novelties

    Ice-cream novelties

    The novelty portfolio includes single-serve cups, cones, bars, sandwiches, and other portioned frozen desserts. These formats translate Ben & Jerry's flavor combinations into convenient products for impulse purchase, convenience channels, and out-of-home consumption. Product availability varies by market and over time.

  • Foodservice and retail experience · 1978

    Scoop-shop menu

    Ben & Jerry's scoop shops sell scoops, sundaes, milkshakes, ice-cream cakes, cones, and other made-to-order desserts. The shops preserve the company's original retail identity and provide venues for Free Cone Day, local charitable activity, brand events, and flavor sampling. The Waterbury factory in Vermont also functions as a visitor destination with public tours.

Controversies

  • 2025

    Dispute over removal of CEO David Stever

    Ben & Jerry's alleged in court that Unilever unlawfully removed CEO David Stever in retaliation for the company's political activism. The allegation became part of a wider dispute over the independent board, corporate control, and the scope of the brand's mission protections.

    Source

  • 2024

    Alleged censorship and retaliation by Unilever

    Ben & Jerry's independent board alleged that Unilever restricted the brand's ability to communicate about Palestinian refugees, student protest rights, a Gaza ceasefire, and other political matters. The board also alleged that Unilever threatened or pursued action against board members and interfered with the brand's independence under the 2000 acquisition agreement.

    Source

  • 2023

    Child-labor allegations involving dairy supply chains

    Reporting alleged that migrant children were working in dairy operations connected to milk supplied to Ben & Jerry's. The issue prompted scrutiny of agricultural labor conditions and the limits of corporate supply-chain monitoring. The company responded publicly to the reporting, including a controversial statement about monitored workplace conditions.

    Source

  • 2021

    Israel and Palestinian territories sales dispute

    Ben & Jerry's announced that it would stop sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not renew its local franchise arrangement. Unilever later sold its Israeli business interest to the local licensee, while Ben & Jerry's independent board criticized the arrangement and argued that continued sales in the territory conflicted with the brand's values. The dispute led to litigation, political criticism, and mediation efforts.

    Source

Read more

Marketing campaigns

  • 2024Progress Comes in Many Flavors

    United States

    Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield promoted a series of advertisements encouraging progressive political and social action. The campaign continued the founders' practice of using the brand's cultural visibility to advocate for social change.

    Outcome. The campaign maintained Ben & Jerry's explicit progressive positioning and contributed to ongoing debate about the relationship between consumer brands, corporate speech, and political advocacy.

    Source
  • 2022Tony's Chocolonely partnership

    Global

    Ben & Jerry's partnered with Tony's Chocolonely to raise awareness of modern slavery and child labor in cocoa production and to promote more responsible chocolate sourcing.

    Outcome. The partnership connected Ben & Jerry's social-mission communications with a supply-chain issue directly relevant to its brownie, cookie, and chocolate inclusions.

    Source
  • 2020Chunky Dunky

    United States · Global

    Ben & Jerry's collaborated with Nike on a colorful SB Dunk Low sneaker inspired by the Chunky Monkey flavor and the brand's playful visual identity.

    Outcome. The collaboration extended Ben & Jerry's cultural reach into streetwear and sneaker culture and created a limited-edition product associated with the brand.

    Source
  • 2009CyClone Dairy

    United States

    Ben & Jerry's created a fictional dairy company that claimed to sell milk from cloned cows. The April Fool's reveal explained that the hoax was intended to encourage a national tracking system and give consumers information about food origins.

    Outcome. The campaign used humor to publicize concerns about cloned-animal products and traceability in the food system.

    Source
  • 2005Baked Alaska environmental protest

    United States

    On Earth Day, Ben & Jerry's created a roughly 900-pound Baked Alaska and displayed it near the U.S. Capitol to protest a Senate proposal to permit oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

    Outcome. The stunt generated national publicity and reinforced the brand's environmental-activist image.

    Source
  • 1992Children's Defense Fund partnership

    United States

    Ben & Jerry's cooperated with the Children's Defense Fund to focus public attention on children's basic needs. The campaign encouraged consumers to send postcards to Congress concerning children and national policy.

    Outcome. More than 70,000 postcards were reportedly sent, demonstrating the company's use of its retail reach for issue advocacy.

    Source
  • 1986Cowmobile

    United States

    Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield toured the United States in a modified mobile home, distributing free scoops and promoting the brand directly to consumers. The vehicle was destroyed by fire outside Cleveland several months into the tour, without reported injuries.

    Outcome. The Cowmobile became a memorable example of Ben & Jerry's unconventional, founder-led marketing style despite the loss of the vehicle.

    Source
  • 1984What's the Doughboy Afraid Of?

    United States

    Ben & Jerry's used a humorous public campaign to support its lawsuit against Pillsbury over distribution restrictions associated with Häagen-Dazs. The campaign framed the dispute as a small, independent Vermont company challenging a large food conglomerate.

    Outcome. The campaign linked a distribution lawsuit to the brand's independent and anti-corporate identity, although the broader legal dispute continued into a second lawsuit in 1987.

    Source
  • 1979Free Cone Day

    United States · Global

    Ben & Jerry's gives away free scoops at participating shops as an annual customer and community event. Charities and local organizations often participate, turning the promotion into a fundraising and civic-engagement occasion. The event was paused during the COVID-19 period and later resumed.

    Outcome. Free Cone Day became one of the company's most recognizable recurring brand traditions and a major source of local publicity and community participation.

    Source

Brand decisions

  • 2025

    Maintain independent brand governance under new ice-cream parentStrategy

    Background

    The separation from Unilever changed the corporate parent while leaving Ben & Jerry's independent board and mission protections central to the brand's governance debate.

    Action taken

    Ben & Jerry's continued operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of The Magnum Ice Cream Company, with an independent board empowered to protect brand equity and integrity.

    Aftermath

    The move preserved the brand's separate identity but did not resolve disputes over the limits of independent political expression and executive authority.

    Source

  • 2024

    Separate the ice-cream business from UnileverM&A

    Background

    Unilever announced a broader simplification program and determined that its ice-cream portfolio would perform better as a focused standalone business.

    Action taken

    Unilever announced the separation of its ice-cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, Magnum, Cornetto, Talenti, and Wall's, into The Magnum Ice Cream Company.

    Aftermath

    The transfer of ownership was implemented during 2025, making Ben & Jerry's a subsidiary of The Magnum Ice Cream Company rather than Unilever.

    Source

  • 2022

    Launch the Mootopia regenerative-agriculture pilotStrategy

    Background

    Dairy production is a significant source of agricultural emissions, and Ben & Jerry's sought to reduce the emissions intensity of milk supplied by partner farms.

    Action taken

    The company launched a pilot involving 15 supplier farms in the United States and the Netherlands, supporting regenerative practices for grass and feed production.

    Aftermath

    The pilot established a test model for reducing emissions intensity and improving agricultural practices across part of the dairy supply chain.

    Source

  • 2021

    End planned sales in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoryStrategy

    Background

    Ben & Jerry's stated that sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were inconsistent with its values. Its Israeli franchisee opposed the change and did not agree to implement it.

    Action taken

    The company announced that it would not renew the franchise arrangement in 2022 and would stop sales in the territory.

    Aftermath

    Unilever later sold its Israeli business interest to the local licensee. Ben & Jerry's challenged the arrangement, and the parties pursued dispute resolution through mediation.

    Source

  • 2013

    Commit to GMO-free productsStrategy

    Background

    Ben & Jerry's supported mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods and sought to align product formulation with its consumer-facing values.

    Action taken

    The company committed to making its products GMO-free, with implementation involving ingredient and supplier changes.

    Aftermath

    The decision strengthened the brand's values-led positioning and linked product formulation to a broader policy campaign about food labeling.

    Source

  • 2006

    Reverse the Eco-Pint packaging transitionStrategy

    Background

    Ben & Jerry's reported increasing difficulties obtaining Eco-Pint materials at acceptable levels of supply, quality, and cost.

    Action taken

    The company stopped using the unbleached Eco-Pint and moved back to a bleached paperboard pint container.

    Aftermath

    The decision illustrated the operational tension between environmental packaging goals and manufacturing reliability, availability, and cost.

    Source

  • 2001

    Adopt Eco-Pint packagingStrategy

    Background

    The company sought packaging with a lower environmental impact and wanted to move toward a paperboard container without added chlorine.

    Action taken

    Ben & Jerry's U.S. completed a transition to unbleached paperboard Eco-Pint containers for its pint flavors.

    Aftermath

    The packaging was discontinued in 2006 after the company cited supply, quality, and cost challenges, and standard bleached paperboard was restored.

    Source

  • 2000

    Sale to UnileverM&A

    Background

    Ben & Jerry's had grown into a multinational brand but faced the strategic and governance pressures associated with remaining independent. Acquisition prompted a grassroots effort to preserve the company's social mission.

    Action taken

    Ben & Jerry's agreed to be acquired by Unilever for $326 million. The agreement included commitments concerning the company's social and economic missions and preserved an independent board structure for the brand.

    Aftermath

    The founders ceased to manage daily operations, while Ben & Jerry's continued as an independent subsidiary within Unilever. The ownership arrangement later became the basis for disputes over board authority and political communications.

    Acquisition consideration. $326 million (April 2000)

    Source

  • 1984

    Raise expansion capital through a Vermont-only public offeringStrategy

    Background

    Ben & Jerry's needed capital to expand beyond its original scoop-shop base while retaining a distinctive local ownership identity.

    Action taken

    The company sold shares in a Vermont-only offering and raised $750,000. Ben Cohen retained a 50 percent stake and Jerry Greenfield retained 10 percent according to historical accounts.

    Aftermath

    The offering financed growth while reinforcing the company's Vermont-centered ownership story. The company later became involved in acquisition discussions and was ultimately acquired by Unilever.

    Capital raised. $750,000 (1984)

    Source

Sources11 sources

  1. 1Ben & Jerry'sen.wikipedia.org
  2. 2How We're Structuredbenjerry.com
  3. 3Unilever reaches new business arrangement for Ben & Jerry's in Israelunilever.com
  4. 4Unilever announces ice-cream separationunilever.com
  5. 5Demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and Share Consolidation of Unilever PLCunilever.com
  6. 6Ben & Jerry's Mootopia pilotbenjerry.com
  7. 7Ben & Jerry's and Tony's Chocolonely partnershipbenjerry.com
  8. 8Associated Press report on David Stever and Unileverapnews.com
  9. 9The New York Times report on migrant children in dairy supply chainsnytimes.com
  10. 10Chunky Dunky Nike collaborationnike.com
  11. 11Progress Comes in Many Flavorsbenjerry.com

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