Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream

Häagen-Dazs was founded in 1960 by Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York. Despite its Scandinavian-sounding name, which was invented to suggest an aura of old-world craftsmanship, the brand is entirely American in origin. It began with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, marketed as a premium, high-quality ice cream with a low overrun and high butterfat content.

Today, the manufacturing and ownership of the brand are split based on geography. In the United States and Canada, the brand is licensed to Froneri, a joint venture between Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream. For the rest of the world, including Europe and Asia, the brand is owned by General Mills. Most products sold internationally (outside North America) are manufactured in Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines, France, while North American supplies are produced in domestic facilities like those in California.