Ben and Jerry are known for their ice breaking intense flavors. The flavors they have created are some of the most iconic and trendy ice cream flavors on the freezer shelves.
However, their ice cream is so much more than ice cream and represents them and their values in a variety of ways, from their humor and interests to their beliefs and topics of importance. Ben and Jerry have personified their ice cream way beyond name alone and have made a huge impact past just the delicious world of ice cream.
The Sweet Beginning
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, also known as Ben and Jerry, the founders of the deliciously iconic ice cream brand, Ben and Jerry's, have had an impact like no other on the icy world of ice cream and beyond. Ben and Jerry first met in junior high when Jerry fainted in gym class, it made quite an impression on Ben and soon they were fast friends.
They grew up with similar backgrounds in Long Island, New York. Growing up Jerry was one to follow the rules. while Ben was considered to be the breaker of said rules. This is something that didn't change, as Ben and Jerry's not so much broke rules, but broke precedence in what an ice cream scoop shop could do, be, and taste like.
Delicious Twists and Churns
As they got older, ice cream had an interesting way of showing up in their lives. Ben drove an ice cream truck his senior year of high school, then after attending a few Northeast colleges, decided to teach pottery and experiment with a little ice cream making here and there.
Jerry pursued a career in pre-med and medicine, where he worked as an ice cream scooper in his College's cafeteria. After a few failed attempts and things not going as planned, Ben and Jerry, who had moved in together after Jerry's graduation, decided to go into business together.
Why Ice Cream?
When asked in an interview why they decided on ice cream, Jerry shared, "we were both fat, dumpy kids growing up, and we liked to eat. So we knew we wanted to do something with food." They also shared that they had looked into a lot of different options of food and were seriously considering making bagels, but alas, the equipment was too expensive, and so the idea of creating fun and delicious ice cream emerged!
Ben and Jerry soon took the plunge and after takin a $5 dollar ice cream making class from Penn State and a $12,000 investment, they opened their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont in 1978. Ben and Jerry soon had delicious success as their ice cream grew in popularity and they began selling packed ice cream pints to local mom and pop stores. They became known for their exciting and out-there ice cream flavors.
Flavors You Can Taste With Your Eyes Closed
Ben and Jerry are known for out-there intensely-delicious flavors, crazy ice cream names, and "funky chunks" in their ice cream. The reason for this might be surprising, it was actually Ben's influence. Ben had a terrible sense of smell and taste, but enjoyed unique textures. So the goal was to make the flavors so deliciously intense, Ben could taste them blindly and enjoy them with his eyes closed.
More Than Meets the Scoop
Ben and Jerry are more than just two jolly, fun-loving ice cream scoop shop owners and entrepreneurs. They love pop culture and entertainment, but they are also a big supporter of environmental friendly policies and a world with no GMOs. They are also actively engaged with social issues and are not afraid to let their opinions be known.
So while Ben and Jerry are known for flavors like their most popular Half-Baked as well as others like Milk and Cookies, they also show what they support and how they feel about different topics through the names of their ice cream flavors.
One of their most popular flavors, Cherry Garcia, with sweet cherries and rich yummy fudge, was named after Grateful Dead singer Jerry Garcia, but that's not all. Ben and Jerry have an affinity for jokes and puns alike, so it may come as no surprise that they've named flavors after multiple Tonight Night Show hosts. Flavors include: Late Night Snack, the Tonight Dough, and AmeriCone Dream.
Not Your Average Ice Cream Company
What really sets Ben and Jerry's apart is they're not afraid to let their politics or opinions on social issues be known. Ben and Jerry's is not afraid to take political stands with flavors like, "Hubby Hubby" for marriage equality, "Justice ReMix'd" for criminal justice reform, and "Pecan Resist" to protest discriminatory policies. In regards to the issue of climate change, they released the flavor, "Save Our Swirled". They have also participated in a variety of different demonstrations and or advocacy campaigns in line with their beliefs.
The Final Scoop
Ben and Jerry have influenced the ice cream world like no others through their brand. Their ice cream represents them on a greater level than just their name. They enjoy creating fun and intense flavors filled with "funky chunks" with textures that will delight any mouth. They also showcase their humor and interests with fun puns and pop culture references. However, while they may appear to be the jolly Santa Claus equivalent of the ice cream world, they are not afraid to get serious about issues they care about.
They never miss a scoop when it comes to current events. Ben and Jerry and their brand have made an impact on ice cream and the world and have scooped the way for other ice cream companies to follow suite. Until then, we will be looking forward to The Sundae After Next!
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