B&J's (Ben & Jerry's) ice cream

Ben & Jerry's was founded in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, USA, by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The brand quickly became iconic for its chunky mix-ins, high-quality ingredients, and unique flavor names like Cherry Garcia. From its inception, the company has integrated social and environmental activism into its core business model.

Today, manufacturing takes place in various locations around the world. Major production facilities are located in Waterbury and St. Albans, Vermont, while international demand is met through a significant manufacturing site in Hellendoorn, Netherlands. This distributed production model helps the brand maintain its global presence across dozens of countries.

In 2000, Ben & Jerry's was acquired by the multinational consumer goods giant Unilever. Despite the acquisition, the brand maintains a unique independent Board of Directors that oversees its social mission and brand integrity. Unilever is headquartered in the United Kingdom and governs the brand as one of its most prominent high-growth premium labels within its ice cream division.