Breyers is the ice-cream brand founded by William A. Breyer in Philadelphia in 1866.
William A. Breyer began making and selling ice cream in Philadelphia during the 19th century. The business grew from a local operation into a widely recognized American brand, helped by expanding refrigeration, transportation, and packaged-food distribution.
Breyers is sometimes confused with Dreyer’s, another major American ice-cream name. The similarity comes from their names and from regional naming: Dreyer’s is sold as Edy’s in parts of the United States, while Breyers is a separate brand with its own history. Breyers products have also included frozen dairy desserts, so not every item sold under the brand is legally labeled ice cream.
The company’s early Philadelphia origin places it among the oldest enduring American ice-cream brands. Its history predates the modern supermarket era, when home refrigeration and nationwide distribution transformed frozen desserts from local specialties into common household products.