It Takes Two Men To Make This Woman Happy
There is no denying it. I’m in love. But the problem is that it’s with two men: Ben and Jerry.
They make some of the most delicious ice cream I’ve ever tasted and it’s even gotten to the point where I work for them now. I’m an ice cream scooper at a Scoop Shop less than 5 minutes from my dorm room. When I walk through the doors, all I can smell is delicious waffle cone and creamy ice cream. In one word, it’s heaven.
There is no denying that Ben and Jerry’s is a huge brand among the millennial generation. In fact, it was ranked among the top 15 most trusted brands by Gen Y. The company has successfully used Facebook and Twitter to target social networkers and gain many fans and followers.
Everything about their brand just screams hip and cool. Their flavors are interesting and always keep you wanting more. My personal favorite is Chocolate Therapy (only available in Scoop Shops) with swirls of chocolate ice cream, chocolate pudding and chocolate cookies. A chocolate masterpiece. Other flavors also show off the Ben and Jerry’s unique vibe with creations like Chunky Monkey (banana ice cream with walnuts and chocolate chunks) and their classics Phish Food and Cherry Garcia. It has gotten to the point where these flavors have become iconic to ice cream lovers worldwide.
There are many myths that people have about Gen Y. However, it is true that millennials believe deeply in social responsibility. Not only has that always been part of the Ben and Jerry’s brand, but they make it clear exactly the good that they do. Ben and Jerry’s not only has a product mission, but they also have an economic and social mission that they keep on display at stores. They use brownies from a bakery in New York that employees the less fortunate and they make it a point to use fair trade items in their ice creams.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that many of my fellow Gen Y-ers don’t know is that Ben and Jerry’s is owned by Unilever. Unilever is a huge brand that many millennials are automatically turned off by. It’s one of those big bad companies that dominates the market and sends out inconsistent messages. They own Axe, a womanizing brand, and Dove, a brand all about female empowerment. Excuse me?
Even if you’re lactose intolerant, you have to love Ben and Jerry’s. If not for their ice cream, then for their brand. They care about their employees and provide a great work environment. They care about the world that they live in and they try to give back to their communities. Even though Ben and Jerry’s is owned by Unilever, it isn’t emphasized and manages to keep the brand consistent. I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll continue my love affair with these two delicious men.
Image Credit: adobemac
I’m with you, hon. NOTHING I love more than a pint (any pint) of Ben & Jerry’s. I’m thrilled to be living in their home town now!
I love Ben & Jerry’s. My favorite is Imagine Whirled Peace. Since I discovered Ben & Jerry’s, I can’t eat any other ice cream. Everything else is just blahhh. I even make cake with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. It also helps that they are socially responsible. Makes me even more attached to the brand.
I don’t like the fact that such a great brand is owned by Unilever, but in today’s economy that is probably the only way to be successful in the global market. Besides United Colors of Benetton, and even Benetton is not entirely independent, I can’t name any other successful independent brands.
Cake with Ben & Jerry’s? Care to share that recipe?
Their ice cream is obesity waiting to happen, but I can eat a pint of it without even thinking twice. It’s just too good!
I can eat a pint without even thinking twice too. I actually do it almost twice a month.
The cake is really simple:
1. Take a regular cake mix– your favorite. It works well with yellow cake or chocolate. Devil’s cake works too.
2. Mix it according to the instructions and split it in two equal parts. You will use them as layers.
3. Bake the two parts for half of the time given in the instructions.
4. Melt (you can even microwave it. I know it sounds weird, but no worries) one pint of your favorite ice cream and pour it over the first layer. Spread it evenly.
5. Put the second layer on the top of the first one.
6. Melt another pint of ice cream and pour it over the second layer.
7. Let is sit for 2 hours or less…
8. Enjoy
Easy, quick and delicious
You can use any ice cream and even mix two or three flavors. You can put fruites on top
great article about B & J. These two former hippies created their iconic ice cream only to realize that in order for everyone to enjoy a pint or two, they had to go global. Enter Unilever. The contract they forged with this giant shows that they didn’t want to just take the money and run. It really was all about the ice cream. I’m a Cherry Garcia fan myself ever since that first spoonfull in Burlington back in the 80′s.
As long as they stick to their core principles & continue to turn out great ice cream with social responsibility, I don’t care who owns them. More Fair Trade and hormone free ice cream please!