Childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield started their ice cream business in 1978 by opening their first ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont after taking an ice cream making class. Their unique flavors and commitment to community engagement helped the shop become popular. As demand grew, they opened more locations in Vermont and eventually expanded outside the state. By the 1980s, Ben & Jerry's had become a successful national brand known for innovative flavors and social activism. The company faced challenges with distribution rights but continued growing, achieving over $32 million in sales by 1987.

2. Ice cream is a delicious treat
that few can resist.
One of the best-known vendors is Ben &
Jerry’s. A pair of friends who started
their own ice cream business, which in
the end became one of the biggest ice
cream brands known by name.
Ben & Jerry’s first shop
opened in 1978

3. After taking a $5 ice cream making class from
Penn State and a $12,000 investment,
childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry
Greenfield open their first ice cream scoop
shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington,
Vermont.

4. The original scoop shop became
a community favorite all thanks
to it’s unique flavors.
Ben and Jerry also made it
a goal to connect with the
community; hosting free
film festivals and giving
away free scoops on the
stores first anniversary, a
tradition that still
continues today!
As news of Ben &
Jerry’s spread more
people wanted to try.
So the next scoop shop
opens in Shelburne,
Vermont.

5. In 1983 Ben & Jerry’s
finally expanded outside
of Vermont. A shop opened
in Maine.
Throughout the 80s Ben &
Jerry’s unveiled several
flavors. By 1987 sales were at
$32 million.
In 1988 Ben & Jerry are
named “U.S. Small
Business Persons of the
Year” by president Regan.

6. Ben & Jerry didn’t always have
smooth sailing when it came to
their business. Ben & Jerry’s often faced off with Häagen-Dazs over
distribution rights, leading to lawsuits.
Once Ben & Jerry realized they
needed someone with a good
business judgment they held a
contest called “YO! I’m your CEO”
in which anyone could apply.
In 1995 Robert
Holland, Jr. was
selected to be CEO,
ironically he was
not found via the
contest.

7. Ben & Jerry's joins in a supportive
campaign with the non profit, Children's
Defense Fund; the goal is to bring
children's basic needs to the top of the
national agenda.

8. In 1994 Ben & Jerry's: The
Inside Scoop, written by
Fred "Chico" Lager was
published.
In 1990 Eight million Ben & Jerry's
pints carried a "Support Farm Aid "
message as part of the grassroots
efforts of Farm Aid, a non-profit
organization whose mission is to
keep family farmers on their land.
Chocolate Chip
Cookie dough is
invented in 1991
and becomes one
of the most
popular flavors.
In 1994 Ben & Jerry’s
begins to show up in the
UK.

9. In 1995
benandjerrys.com
is created and has
millions of hits.
In 1996 Ben & Jerry’s introduces “No
Fat, No Lactose, No Cholesterol”
flavors.
On their 20th anniversary, in
1998, Ben & Jerry’s changes
up the look of their ice
cream cartons.

10. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
is a legend. From their
great flavors to unique
names.
Ben Cohen has been serving ice cream even
before he went to college. During his senior
year in high school he drove on ice cream
truck. He attended various colleges before
giving up his studies altogether and working
on a farm, where he also dabbed in ice
cream making. Jerry Greenfield, however, went
straight to college after high
school to study medicine. He did
work as an ice cream scooper in
his college’s cafeteria. Upon
graduating, Jerry returned to
New York to work as a lab
technician, while applying to
medical school without success.
While Jerry worked as a lab tech in NYC he shared an apartment with
Ben. And after moving to NC for a couple years he ran into Ben again,
and together they started a very well known business.