Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened Ben & Jerry’s in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978.
The childhood friends took a $5 correspondence course in ice-cream making after deciding that opening a food business would be less expensive than starting a bagel shop. They used a renovated gas station as their first shop.
Ben & Jerry’s became known for chunky flavors, colorful names, and a strong social mission. Early flavors included Chunky Monkey and Chocolate Fudge Brownie, while the company also supported fair-trade sourcing and nonprofit causes.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, but the brand retained an independent board intended to protect its social mission. The founders’ names remain part of the company’s public identity.