Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry's was founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Known for its 'chunky' ice cream flavors and social activism, the brand became a global leader in the premium frozen dessert category. The brand is famous for a unique governance structure that includes an independent board of directors, ensuring that its social mission remains intact regardless of corporate ownership.

In 2000, the company was acquired by the multinational conglomerate Unilever. However, as of 2024-2025, Unilever began a strategic spin-off of its ice cream division into a new standalone corporate entity. By 2026, the brand shifted under the ultimate ownership of this newly formed entity, often referred to as 'The Magnum Ice Cream Company' (or simply the standalone Ice Cream business spun off from Unilever).

Manufacturing takes place in multiple locations to serve global markets. Key production facilities are located in Waterbury and Saint Albans, Vermont (USA) for the American market, and Hellendoorn, Netherlands for the European market. A facility in Israel previously served the local region but was sold to a local licensee following disputes over the brand's social mission, though production continues there under specific local licensing agreements.