Founding Story and Early Business Moves
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield met in a seventh grade gym class in Merrick, New York. In 1978, they used a $5 correspondence course to learn ice cream making and opened their first scoop shop in Burlington, Vermont, in 1979. Their early strategy focused on dense, low-air ice cream with chunky mix-ins and locally sourced ingredients, which helped the brand stand out in a crowded frozen dessert market Forbes.
By the mid-1980s, the company had expanded from a single storefront to a regional chain, emphasizing social mission and progressive values. They built a strong local following by supporting community projects, using fair-trade ingredients, and taking public stances on issues like climate change and marriage equality. This purpose-driven model attracted loyal customers and media attention, laying the groundwork for national growth Ben & Jerry's.
Acquisition by Unilever and Financial Impact
In 2000, Ben & Jerry's was acquired by the British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company Unilever for about $326 million in cash. The deal allowed the brand to keep its Vermont headquarters and social mission while gaining access to Unilever's global distribution and supply chain capabilities SEC EDGAR.
Under Unilever ownership, Ben & Jerry's continued to grow its retail presence in the United States and expanded into international markets, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe. The brand remained a separate operating unit within Unilever's ice cream division, and its financial results were reported as part of Unilever's broader consolidated filings with investors and regulators Unilever.
Current Brand Status and Recent Developments
Ben & Jerry's remains one of the top-selling premium ice cream brands in the U.S., with a wide portfolio of flavors, non-dairy options, and limited-edition collaborations. The company continues to publish annual social and environmental impact reports and maintains public commitments on issues such as racial justice, climate action, and fair trade sourcing Ben & Jerry's Values.
In recent years, the brand has faced public scrutiny over its stance on Israel and Palestine, which led to some retail pullbacks and consumer boycotts in certain markets. Despite these controversies, Ben & Jerry's remains a recognizable global frozen dessert brand, and its founders' legacy as social entrepreneurs is still central to the company's public identity and marketing Forbes.