Skip Nav
Love It. Save Your Favorites Now.
14 Things You Didn't Know About Ben & Jerry's
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Halloween
Forget the PSL! Let's Talk About Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
How to Carve a Pineapple Jack-o'-Lantern
DIY
Ditch the Pumpkin and Carve a Spooky Pineapple Jack-o'-Lantern Instead — Get the DIY
Cheese Advent Calendar at Target 2018
Food News
A $20 Cheese Advent Calendar Is Coming to Target, 'Cause Dreams Really Do Come True
Recipes Using Candy
Halloween
23 Brilliant Ways to Use Up Your Candy Stash
Savory Pumpkin Recipes
Dinner
Forget Pumpkin Pie and Make These 28 Savory Pumpkin Dishes Instead
View On One Page
ADVERTISEMENT ()
Start Slideshow

Who hasn't soothed their soul with a rich, creamy pint of Ben & Jerry's after a tough day? Or, for that matter, celebrated with a cone or sundae from one of the many Scoop Shops? But what do you really know about the beloved brand? We've rounded up 14 fun, quirky facts about the Vermont-based ice cream company here. (Obviously, these facts are best paired with a pint of your go-to flavor.)

Ben & Jerry's typically releases between five and eight new products annually. (Some are only available in pint form at supermarkets, others only at Scoop Shops.)
All Ben & Jerry's flavors begin with either a chocolate or sweet cream base — a mixture of heavy cream, condensed skim milk, and liquid cane sugar. Unique bases are made by mixing in extracts or purees and adding a variety of chunks, swirls, and/or core fillings.
Ben Cohen's initial name idea for the ice cream brand was Josephine's Flying Machine, after "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine," a song by Fred Fisher and Alfred Bryan. Thankfully, Jerry Greenfield was not on board, and it was instead named after the duo.
Ben & Jerry's invented cookie dough ice cream in 1984. The flavor was born out of an anonymous fan suggestion, the team got to work developing it, and the rest is history.
The iconic cow on Ben & Jerry's packaging is named "Woody," after the artist who drew it, Woody Jackson.
Other iconic flavors, including Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, and Chubby Hubby, were also originally suggested by fans. The flavors made their debut in 1987, 1988, and 1994, respectively.
Fanciful flavors like Vermonty Python and Wavy Gravy aren't the only ones that have been retired. None of the original flavors — Oreo Mint, French Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, Wild Blueberry, Mocha Walnut, Honey Coffee, and Honey Orange — are currently sold by the pint or in scoop shops.
Employees at Ben & Jerry's Burlington, VT, headquarters enjoy a variety of perks, including a pet-friendly office and three pints of free ice cream per day.
The Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury is the biggest tourist attraction in Vermont; about 200,000 people visit annually and take the tour.
The wildly popular Core flavors released in 2014 — Hazed & Confused, Peanut Butter Fudge, Salted Caramel, and That's My Jam — weren't the first of their kind. The Core concept was introduced in 2002 with Karamel Sutra and is meant to emulate a sundae in a pint.
Core flavors are manufactured using a proprietary funnel-like piece of equipment, inspired by a sausage maker.
Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day, which typically occurs in late April or early May, has been around since 1979; the first Free Cone Day was in celebration of the ice cream shop's one-year anniversary.
While Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000, the ice cream brand's social mission continues to be managed by an independent board of directors to this day.
As of 2014, the 10 most popular Ben & Jerry's flavors are as follows: Half Baked, Cherry Garcia, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Phish Food, Strawberry Cheesecake, Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch, Chunky Monkey, Americone Dream, Peanut Butter Cup.
Start Slideshow
Join the conversation
From Our Partners
Sabra Avocado Toast
Food News
Deep Breaths, Brunchers: Sabra Is Selling $3 Avocado Toast So Our Wallets Can Rest Easy
by Perri Konecky
Free Reese's and Hershey's Cheesecake Factory October 2018
Halloween
The Cheesecake Factory Is Delivering FREE Reese's and Hershey's Slices For Halloween!
by Erin Cullum
Cheese Advent Calendar at Target 2018
Food News
A $20 Cheese Advent Calendar Is Coming to Target, 'Cause Dreams Really Do Come True
by Victoria Messina
Three Olives Eggnog Vodka 2018
Food News
I'll Be Home For Christmas, and I'm Bringing This Eggnog-Flavored Vodka With Me
by Danielle Jackson
Starbucks Japan Halloween Witch and Princess Frappuccinos
Halloween
Starbucks Japan Now Has Witch and Princess Frappuccinos, and We're Booking Flights STAT
by Victoria Messina
Rotisserie Chicken-Flavored Candy Canes
Food News
Rotisserie Chicken Candy Canes Actually Exist, and I'm Truly at a Loss For Words
by Victoria Messina
19 Crimes Wine Story
Food News
This Wine Gives Details of Criminals' Pasts on the Bottles, and Yep, It's Perfect For Halloween
by Murphy Moroney
Where to Buy Golden Girls Cereal
Nostalgia
You Can Now Buy Golden Girls Cereal at Target, and Um, Have You Heard Better News Today?
by Erin Cullum
Disney's Pumpkin Spice Soft Serve at Aulani Resort and Spa
Food News
It Was Only a Matter of Time Before Disney Started Offering Pumpkin Spice Soft Serve
by Karenna Meredith
Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Cereal Return 2018
Food News
Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch Cereal Is Returning This Year, and Hellooo, Morning Sugar Rush!
by Victoria Messina
Trader Joe's Candy Corn Popcorn
Halloween
It's Kind of Scary How Excited We Are About Trader Joe's Candy Corn Popcorn
by Karenna Meredith
Cheap Backyard Makeover Ideas
DIY
Get the Backyard of Your Dreams With These Affordable Ideas From HGTV's Desert Flippers
by Eric & Lindsey Bennett
From Our Partners
Latest Recipes, Menus, Food & Wine
We're Hiring! Write For Us About Us Advertising Contact FAQ Archives
Power Your Happy POPSUGAR at Kohl's Collection Beauty by POPSUGAR POPSUGAR Must Have POPSUGAR Insights
Terms Privacy Policy
©2018 PopSugar • POPSUGAR Living
All the Latest From Ryan Reynolds