Vanilla was the first ice-cream flavor sold by Ben & Jerry’s when the company opened in 1978.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, on May 5, 1978. The shop began with a small selection of flavors, including vanilla, and the company later became known for chunky mix-ins and unusual flavor names.
Many famous Ben & Jerry’s flavors came much later. Cherry Garcia, named after Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, launched in 1987, while Chocolate Fudge Brownie was introduced in 1991. Those dates help separate the brand’s early shop menu from its later supermarket-era identity.
The company’s first product was ice cream made for scooping, not the packaged pint range that made Ben & Jerry’s internationally famous. Its distinctive texture and large inclusions became central to the brand’s style.