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The Sweet Story Of How Ben & Jerry's Built Its Ice Cream Empire

The Sweet Story Of How Ben & Jerry's Built Its Ice Cream Empire
Leigh Weingus
By 

On Assignment For HuffPost

It all started with a guy named Ben and a guy named Jerry.

The year was 1978, and young besties Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decided they wanted to start a company. They briefly considered bagels, but the equipment was too expensive, so they opted for opening an ice cream shop in a converted gas station in Vermont.

Their company name was simple: Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream.

(Story continues below.)
old ben and jerrys
The orginal Ben & Jerry's ice cream scoop shop in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont, shown in this 1978 photo.

Cohen had a condition that made it hard for him to smell, so he suggested putting big, flavorful chunks in the ice cream and ... why are we ruining this for you?

Check out Fast Company's video (above) for the full story of how Ben & Jerry's came to be what it is today.

ben and jerry
In this photo taken March 23, 2010, ice cream moves along the production line at Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream in Waterbury, Vermont.

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Before You Go

1
Apple Pie With Candy Bar Pie Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Candy Bar Pie Ice Cream is peanut butter ice cream with fudge fakes, chocolate nougat and sweet and salty pretzel swirls. The peanut butter and apple combo is a nostalgic winner.
See here for some great apple pie recipes.
2
Pecan Pie With Chocolate Therapy Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Chocolate Therapy Ice Cream is chocolate ice cream with chocolate cookies and swirls of chocolate pudding ice cream. With pecan pie, it's the most luscious, gooey chocolatey dessert of all time. We need it NOW. (Quick! Before the chocolate shortage hits!)
See A Beautiful Mess for a great pecan pie recipe.
3
Pumpkin Pie With Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz Ice Cream is coffee ice cream with espresso bean fudge chunks. Think pumpkin and coffee don't go together? Think again. This combination, especially with the chunks of chocolate, is brilliant.
See here for your essential list of pumpkin dessert recipes.
4
Chocolate Cream Pie With Cherry Garcia
Ben & Jerry's
Cherry Garcia is cherry ice cream with cherries and fudge flakes. According to Ben & Jerry's, "this pairing is like a box of chocolate covered cherries…only creamier….. with whipped cream." We're sold.
See here for a killer espresso chocolate cream pie recipe.
5
Mince Pie With Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Salted Caramel Ice Cream is sweet cream ice cream with blonde brownies and a salted caramel core. The salty, buttery caramel flavor is a great compliment for the stewed dried fruits in a mince pie.
See here for some some classic mince pie recipes.
6
Apple Pie With Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Cinnamon Buns Ice Cream is caramel ice cream with cinnamon bun dough and a cinnamon streusel swirl. It brings out the flavors of a classic apple pie. You'll never go back to vanilla again.
See Food52 for a Deep-Fried Apple Pie recipe.
7
Pecan Pie With Americone Dream Cone Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Americone Dream Cone Ice Cream is vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl. If you're looking to get really patriotic this Thanksgiving, or just make a great dessert decision, pairing pecan pie with Americone Dream Cone is the choice for you.
See Food52 for an outrageous Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe.
8
Pumpkin Pie With Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry's
Salted Caramel Ice Cream is sweet cream ice cream with blonde brownies and a salted caramel core. Pumpkin and caramel are the ultimate Thanksgiving pair you need to get down with this year. The warming spices and salt in caramel makes it the savory partner pumpkin's always wanted.
See here for the gooiest, creamiest caramel recipes.
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