Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough and Half Baked ice cream

Ben & Jerry's was founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in Burlington, Vermont, USA. Starting from a renovated gas station, the brand became famous for its chunky inclusions and social activism. In 2000, it was acquired by the British multinational conglomerate Unilever under a unique agreement that allowed an independent board of directors to preserve its social mission.

As of 2026, Ben & Jerry's is part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), an independent entity headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which was spun off from Unilever's ice cream division in late 2025. While the brand remains rooted in its Vermont heritage, the products sold in the German and broader European markets are primarily manufactured at the dedicated facility in Hellendoorn, Netherlands. The brand continues to be a subject of public discussion due to its co-founders' ongoing calls for full independence from its corporate owner.