Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., manufacturer of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet, was founded in Vermont in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, childhood friends from Long Island, New York. The company became known for its known for its innovative flavor combinations and names (such as "Cherry Garcia," the first ice cream named for a rock legend), its environmentally friendly production policies, and its local, national and international social involvement. Originally founded in a converted garage with an investment of $12,000, Ben & Jerry's was acquired by Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch corporation, for $326 million in 2000. Under the terms of the agreement, the company continued to operate separately from Unilever's existing U.S. ice cream business, with an independent Board of Directors to provide leadership for its social mission and brand integrity. Today Ben & Jerry's products can be found throughout the United States and in selected foreign countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Benelux, Canada, Lebanon, Israel, and Japan.
Last updated: July 22, 2004.
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