How Ben and Jerry Built Their Ice Cream Empire

Weird History is going to cool off with some history about Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. Founded in Burlington, Vermont, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were childhood friends who decided to make an ice cream business happen. And man did it ever. Ben & Jerry's has become one of the most recognizable and fan-favorite ice creams across America. Sit back with a pint of Half Baked and enjoy this delicious video.
#benandjerrys #icecream #weirdhistoryfood

[@weirdhistoryfood]

What is your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor?

[@SkylarTrahan]

What’s your favorite? I’ve never had any of their ice cream so I don’t have one

[@btetschner]

For now, Phish Food.

[@allisonalfieri8413]

My favorite is non dairy chocolate fudge brownie

[@cashmoney8464]

Vatnick Cherry RED

[@leslietonn3181]

I would like to know the History behind Coldstone Creamery please!🍨

[@Quanic2000]

From a $5 college elective to a billion dollar company 🤯

[@onieyoh9478]

True communists.

[@sharennyberg7795]

I went to their ice cream factory when i was in Vermont, it was really interesting. At the time they gave each employee 5 gallons of ice cream per week so the employees wouldn't "steal" any. I thought that was a novel idea. Thanks for the video, they are always really interesting

[@goldenvulture6818]

When exactly was that?

[@sharennyberg7795]

@@goldenvulture6818 hmmm I don't remember lol

[@stickybuns8626]

Don't rob me, here's my wallet LOL.

[@sharennyberg7795]

@@stickybuns8626 love your nic

[@btetschner]

@6:16 "Resisting the urge to roll on the doughboy.." - Hahaha! But seriously, great line!

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

Roll 🤣 I love this channel

[@OhSoNasty]

At this point i just came to accept the fact that weird history of LASAGNA will never be 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@Drummingwizkid]

Big lasagna must have something on them.

[@calvinthurston1441]

​@@Drummingwizkidnah its the italuminati!

[@SkylarTrahan]

You’ll get that video someday!

[@bsj9039]

OK, Garfield.

[@raggedyanarchist]

Whoa. Honey Orange? I wish that was still a flavor -- that sounds unreal.

[@MegaOrwell1984]

There was one flavor I absolutely loved, it was called peanut butter fudge core, but I sadly can't seem to find it anymore.

[@R-Lee-]

My favorite was the apple pie. Can't find it either.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Vanilla Chocolate Chunk... alas.

[@vulpix0r]

It's in the flavour graveyard sadly.

[@rohnbanks6501]

Bc it's in Germany!!! Delicious ❤

[@mn7486]

Heath Bar Crunch. Late 80’s early 90’s in Boston, MA, that’s what I always got.

[@kinggoku56]

They need to bring back the original line as a special promo

[@djtrankilo231]

They should try Day of the Dead for that, even if it's cooler by then

[@LostHope84]

I’m happy that Ben and Jerry’s is able to offer their headquarters’ stolen land back to the Abenaki tribe.

[@OfficialRickHarrison]

You’re gay for reparations😂😂😂

[@lisapop5219]

😂 I said the same thing

[@toddyoung569]

LOL, love their ice cream, their politics suck.

[@benmac1089]

​@@toddyoung569 If you do not like their politics, do not buy from them.

[@killercaos123]

Arguably that decisions isn’t up to them anymore. It’s a good tag line for print, but it is strictly something they have zero, zilch, kaput control over

[@peggywoods4327]

I bought a Ben & Jerry's recipe book years ago, so I can make my own at home 😊

[@gamemasteranthony2756]

I got an ad for Blue Bunny Ice Cream in the middle of this video. IRONIC!!!

[@bensalemme9000]

I would love to see a video on the history of Buc-ee’s, it is so strange to see a gas station to have so many ready made hot foods as they do

[@davidhoj]

Love Buc-ees

[@joinmarch76]

I'm partial to their Americone Dream myself, I get it whenever Ben & Jerry's is on sale.

[@michaelturner2806]

I never knew they had their own public ice cream store or had deals to serve it in restaurants. I've only ever seen it in grocery stores.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

Yea

[@CharliMorganMusic]

I lived nearby their very first ice cream shop. It's the best.

[@tyneishalewis9917]

Whenever its available, I like Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Therapy ice cream. Thanks as always for new content, Weird History Food! I would love to see a video about the history of Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes, if you can!

[@btetschner]

I second that.

[@shirleyannconfer9651]

The name doesn’t lie, LOL.

[@ImAMassiveBender]

Their 2023 new flavors include: 'Banana-Split Republic' and '10% for the Fig Pie'.

[@giraffesinc.2193]

I wish!

[@karlaskitties]

It should be 13% chocolate not more

[@adilsongoliveira]

The ice cream is OK (I really like Cherry Garcia) but *very* expensive here in Brazil and we have better ones locally.

[@peaceful3250]

It's ridiculously expensive in Australia too.

[@WastedTalent-]

@@peaceful3250 It's gotten to $8 in NY.

[@cashmoney8464]

Try Vatnic red!

[@cassieoz1702]

​@peaceful3250 yes, and Australians don't 'get' the American obsession with sugar-laden peanut butter 🤢

[@peaceful3250]

@@WastedTalent- $13 for a pint in Australia. I bought a Ninja Creami and make my own ice cream.

[@NewMessage]

This channel is single-handedly responsible for ruining my diet ... every damn week.

[@weirdhistoryfood]

Haha - You're welcome

[@cashmoney8464]

Think harder! GET off this swill

[@BuildinWings]

Boycotting Ben & Jerry's no longer tells me anything about your politics. Except that you might not know the company was bought by Unilever ages ago, and Ben isn't involved.

[@JazminAlvarez-kj4mq]

8:50

[@maryaltshuller885]

Never tried Ben & Jerry's nor Haagen Dasz. But this is interesting. While on the subject of ice cream, how about filling us in on Dairy Queen's history.

[@greywater3186]

HD is garbage compared with B&Js. It’s full of artificial flavors and chemicals. Don’t know why anyone would choose it over the many premium brands available.

[@darthnowlan]

I've had both, Haagen Dasz is the better of the two.

[@marisad292]

Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ROCKS!

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

Blue Bunny is better.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

Yea

[@btetschner]

@3:42 -The first waffle-rolled ice cream cornucopia (cone) was presented at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 by Ernest A. Hamwi. He later founded the Cornucopia Waffle Company.

[@btetschner]

@7:24 "Cold War" - Hahaha! Those are some dramatic headlines!

[@whymihere86]

I really wish the stores near me would have sold the Schweddy Balls one when that was available. If you dont know the sketch, I highly recommend looking it up

[@btetschner]

Just looked it up, will watch the video later tonight. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@btetschner]

Just watched it, awesome skit! Hahaha!

[@andytang04]

I searched high and low in every store during that time lol when it came out as a real flavor lol

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I'm a fan of Chunky Monkey, which might be because I have anosmia, just like Ben.

[@lunamoon301]

Chunky Monkey is my favorite. But I think it was discontinued, I haven't been able to find it for years now.

[@davidgerow]

I can’t remember if I have ever tried Ben&Jerry’s ice cream? Lol

[@CwL-1984]

I have never had a Ben and Jerry's ice cream

[@j_p_jr.487]

It's overrated.

[@stickibug]

It's like $7 for one serving. It's good but definitely not affordable.

[@CwL-1984]

@@j_p_jr.487 I'm from Oklahoma we have Brauns

[@steveholland1163]

Now they need to give there land back to the native Americans like they tweeted

[@SkylarTrahan]

Gotta love their virtue signaling

[@monkeygraborange]

@@SkylarTrahan no, we don’t

[@SkylarTrahan]

@@monkeygraborange to some extent I do as it lets me know which companies to stay away from.

[@archerj2010]

Right? Bunch of liberal hypocrites.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

No, but you see, that's not really possible in New England because we didn't do much "steal the land" as kill everyone living her and proclaim it was ours. 😅 No, but it's actually really awful.

[@Fitjazpooh]

Please please do the history of instant tea, like Lipton! 🙏🏾

[@benmac1089]

You should only buy Ben and Jerry's if you agree with their July 4th 2023 tweet that the land should be returned to the Native Americans. An actual chief from Vermont took up the idea for the company to give up their land and of course there was silence.

[@monkeygraborange]

B&J are a credit to their race.

[@misterhat5823]

I'll quit buying it when you quit buying Bud Light.

[@TheMarkGoudy]

Yeah, I do agree with it.

[@misterhat5823]

@@C-Mack When are you returning your land, troll?

[@benmac1089]

​@@misterhat5823 I never bought it in my life.

[@Toolsquatch]

I'm still not entirely sure this channel isn't voiced by Americone Dream's inspiration, Stephen Colbert.

[@RafaelGarcia-fm3ov]

I want them to bring back the raspberry core backkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just really liked it lol

[@dqreps]

Bring back Rainforest crunch!!!!

[@cygnia]

Flavor-wise, I still miss Cool Britannia and Mission to Marzipan.

[@lisapop5219]

I wonder if they are in negotiations to hand back their land to the indigenous people yet 🤔 😂

[@monkeygraborange]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... don’t be silly!

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

That would be nice.

[@ramenandgyoza702]

New York Super Fudge Chunk is my fav Ben and Jerry's ice cream! 😊

[@MrGabeanator]

I’m a blue bell guy myself but that said I’ve always wanted to try Ben and Jerry’s chunky monkey

[@jewel65]

It's good. But really pricey.

[@larrylaffer3246]

I'd buy Blue Bell but they don't distribute past the Mason Dixon Line "Missouri". Guess I'll have to settle for Kemp's or Blue Bunny.

[@kirbyculp3449]

That was a one my favorites...

[@MrGabeanator]

@@kirbyculp3449 oh good

[@euniceloy7120]

Could you do a video on the Tillamook company? I grew up eating there cheese, the only thing they sold nation wide for years, before they started making there ice cream, yogurt and other dairy products. I had the opportunity to visit there factory years ago, and had the pleasure of my first room mate in the 1980's, being born and raised in Tillamook, got to visit the unique and small town for the 1980s, and her own family were farmers who raised the cattle that provided the milk to the Tillamook company to make the Tillamook cheese. Thank you.

[@greywater3186]

*their I lived in Oregon for a while. I remember the Tillamook commercials, and my OH and I made up a Tillamook song. I’ve sung it at least once a week for the past 27 years (whenever I eat something from the company, usually cheese). Tillamook is the bee’s knees

[@maicrowsoft8867]

I think an episode on the McVitie's Biscuit company would be a great topic.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

The Jaffa cake controversy too

[@1057shelley]

Their Chunky Monkey is my favorite!

[@gracekim25]

Yay Ice cream history!

[@elsavonorangekitty68]

Ben and Jerry stole the land for their head office from indigenous people and refuse to talk about how to give it back. Shame on you Ben and Jerry

[@calvinthurston1441]

Have you given your stolen land back?

[@veterankamikaze3591]

@@calvinthurston1441 I am Irish, In Ireland, you might say indigenous. I agree with that cat.

[@calvinthurston1441]

@@veterankamikaze3591 how bout u butt out! This is an America problem and ain't got nothing to do with krusty ireland!

[@redline1916]

Lol

[@elsavonorangekitty68]

@@calvinthurston1441 What land did I steal?

[@superspak]

Another amazing video. I was unaware of the Pillsbury fiasco, but loved that the non-violent protest seemed to help get it resolved. Cool that even though they did sell out too, they put in a clause to unilever to advance their vision. Such an amazing company.

[@btetschner]

@1:18 William Colgate, the soap industrialist who founded what would late become the Colgate-Palmolive Company, was part of the board of trustees for Colgate University. Because of the Colgate family's long-term involvement in the Madison University and Theological Seminary, it was later renamed Colgate University.

[@btetschner]

@0:06 - The band Phish is from Burlington, Vermont, the same city Ben & Jerry's was founded. Ben & Jerry's is headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, in the Burlington Metropolitan area.

[@janicelewis3744]

Wavey Gravey & Coconut Fudge Chunk were my absolute favorites. Karmel Sutra is another.

[@kimbrey65]

I've never had the opportunity to try Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I've wanted to though.

[@jacobbundy3012]

Cherry Garcia is so good if you can find it

[@HeyItsCookie]

I'm shocked you didn't mention the vermonster!

[@gingerfoxx1476]

I live on NH and I have a B&J's scoop shop in town where I live. The Vermonster BUCKETS are a sight to behold but I've never has an occasion to indulge in/share one

[@tastingthroughtime]

Another great video. Phish Food is my favorite Ben and Jerry's flavor!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

They should have not sold their business, IMO.

[@thedarkgreenvanman]

Have they given their headquarters back to the natives who’s land it’s situated on?

[@BillyReplies]

It makes me proud to know I live in a country where even a couple of hippies can also succeed in business because we have unrestricted free market capitalism. Also, I like ice cream with chunks of stuff in it.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

Please notice that unrestricted free market capitalism doesn't exist in real life. The big fishes collude, set up unfair practices, and smother the smaller companies - half of this video was about that. On the other side, what you praise without thinking makes the USA the richest country where people die from treatable diseases because healthcare is also subject to ""unrestricted free market capitalism."" And the effects of ""unrestricted free market capitalism"" in the gun industry are seen regularly in the headlines, like nowhere in the civilized world.

[@cashmoney8464]

You are buying for a corporation that does business in The russian Federation still! YOU have nothing to be proud of!

[@SoftBank47]

A New England institution, and, along with the Long Trail Brewing Company, a Vermont culinary legacy. It’s the New England state you probably hear about the least, but Vermont has a lot to offer. 😁

[@kirbyculp3449]

Is Red Hook brewing still in operation?

[@greywater3186]

Oreo mint is still a thing - it has a different name (Mint Chocolate Cookie) and is absolutely amazing. If you grew up in a snowy location I highly recommend it to bring on feelings of nostalgia. If you like cookies & cream as well as mint chocolate chip, this is your new favorite. The mint isn’t overpowering and isn’t fake, the “Oreos” are plentiful - usually at least 5 whole cookies per pint (not to mention the broken up cookies).

[@btetschner]

@4:30 I am so glad Bane was in the Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy, he was one of my favorite characters in Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995). Tom Hardy played Bane spectacularly.

[@chipskylark172]

Ben and Jerrys got rid of the oatmeal raisin cookie ice cream they are dead to me 😂😂

[@RadicalAntifa]

Cry

[@chipskylark172]

@@RadicalAntifathey aren’t really dead I couldn’t care less I was joking 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@solweiser]

grownup in Burlington, VT in summer and went to the converted gas station.

[@azizkash286]

One of the best ice cream makers around

[@aymenliberta7351]

I ❤ Ben & Jerry's icecream

[@JaimeLeighArt]

My favorite Ben & Jerry’s has been Phish Food since I first had it in college 20 years ago!

[@RetroJ77]

New York Super Fudge Chunk. Enough said!

[@btetschner]

@7:48 Legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson, often said to be "the greatest NBA coach in history" is a Grateful Dead fan AKA Deadhead. One of his prized possessions is an autographed cymbal from the band. (New York Post).

[@arnellamahoney317]

I like Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio ice cream. What ever happened to Frusen Gladje ice cream?

[@Kittysniffer]

They should make a flavor called The anarchist's cookbook LOL.

[@btetschner]

@5:49 That is very interesting, I have never heard that term before.

[@user-me8yr9jy7y]

suddenly i wanna buy a pint of b n j ice cream after watchin this🤣

[@shawneyatrics]

Now Ben & Jerry’s comes in a 14 oz. container and costs $8.49 at some locations. Wished it cost twenty bucks so the brand would seize to exist and their headquarters formed on stolen land would go back to their rightful owners.

[@NASCARFAN93100]

Please do The History of Blue Bunny Ice Cream

[@auntvesuvi3872]

My favorite Ben & Jerry's are "Peanut Butter Cup" and "Seven Layer Bar". 🍨 #WeirdHistoryFood #IceCream #BenAndJerrys

[@DonJuanDecepticon]

Im sure a ben and jerry movie like the Tetris and Nike movie is in its way.

[@JessieCarty]

The apple pie frozen yogurt was AMAZING

[@btetschner]

@3:35 - Very cool Ice Creamer!

[@sethsanchez5267]

Tell us about the history of Olive Garden! 🙏🏼

[@TheOddMindofSamBo]

Thought for sure this would be the video where this narrator finally acknowledges his vocal doppelgänger, Stephen Colbert:

[@valeriorodrigues3351]

hooray for ben and jerry flavor lovers!

[@btetschner]

0:55 They were probably lapped by the faster students.

[@RaisonLychi]

I always walk past at the grocery store because it isn't tiger tail flavor.

[@michiganjack1337]

Ben & Jerry’s to me is like Bruce Springsteen. I’ve always seen them talked about in media but never actually knew anyone that liked them or even bought their stuff.

[@BillyReplies]

I totally agree. It's ironic they're partnered with The Grateful Dead who can also be defined by this same phenomenon that occurs when the idea is better than the product. I think it's also known as "style over substance". Also, Bruce Springsteen is a sloppy songwriter with crowded, over-produced arrangements, tempo issues, tuning concerns, and an awful voice. His sax player was good though.

[@chiquita683]

Facts

[@Lawrence_Talbot]

We used to buy them. Then they got very political so we stopped. I don’t miss it.

[@michiganjack1337]

@@BillyReplies How could've I forgotten about Grateful Dead lol - absolutely style over substance. I'd be willing to bet they've sold more t-shirts and other merchandise than any of their albums.

[@angelam5782]

​@@Lawrence_TalbotThey always were political. That was kinda their thing.

[@sherqyanstromain9580]

Ppl in the comments saying u dont like thier politics must be blind or stupid cause they've always had it

[@BeantownMrs]

IDK why they got rid of Mint Oreo because that sounds amazing!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Right?! It couldn't possibly have become 'less popular' so maybe just making room for new ones kicked it off the conveyor? My two faves were always cookies n cream or mint choc chip--sounds like a match for the ages to simply combine them.

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

Ben and Jerrys wasn't even the first premium Ice cream Haggen Dazs was nearly 20 years earlier in 1960

[@B.H.56]

that's what the video said.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Häagen-Dazs is the authentic faux scandinavian spelling

[@keiichitw]

Maybe you should watch the video, before trying to sound smart

[@courtneypuzzo2502]

@@keiichitw I wasn't trying to sound smart just stating the obvious

[@keiichitw]

@@courtneypuzzo2502 what obvious? It litteraly got told in the video. Youre saying it like they didnt mention it.

[@QueenNYC113]

very interesting content .❤

[@solanaceae2069]

Fun fact: "Ben and Jerry's gourmet ice cream has levels of dioxin 2,200 times higher than those authorized for waste water discharged into San Francisco Bay"

[@181cameron]

Delicious, delicious dioxin.

[@misterhat5823]

Have a source for that? You quoted it.

[@solanaceae2069]

@@misterhat5823 LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Ben and Jerry's gourmet ice cream has levels of dioxin 2,200 times higher than those authorised for waste water discharged into San Francisco Bay from a nearby refinery, according to a study released Thursday. The study, presented Thursday at a 'Dioxin 2000' conference in Monterey, California, estimated that the concentration of dioxin found in Ben and Jerry's could account for 200 "extra" cases of cancer among lifetime consumers of the ice cream. The study, completed by one former government scientist and confirmed by an independent laboratory, singled out the contradiction between the firm's promotional material for the ice cream, and the product's potentially harmful contents.

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

@@solanaceae2069 Is there a date associated with that?

[@HFC786]

Should be fascinating

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Very unique and interesting history of the ice creamers!

[@Excessive_complaining]

Love Phish food

[@williamdavid3933]

One of the most underrated love stories of the 20th century.

[@cashmoney8464]

They sold out to a British conglomerate AND Support personally the Russian federations invasion of a democratic neighbor kys!

[@btetschner]

@5:54 Legendary director and screenwriter John Huston reportedly called the the film McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) the greatest western ever made. (Rolling Stone).

[@btetschner]

@2:12 That's a great idea to rennovate a gas station for a business, ghost town-style gas stations are scattered everywhere. My step-grandmother's son used to live at a gas station, it was one of the 60's-styled ones.

[@btetschner]

@6:25 Calling out the doughboy hahaha!

[@Pkilla80]

Wavey gravey was far and away rhe best. I read when sold to Unilever they decided some flavors "cost too much" to produce and eliminated them

[@magzdilluh]

Chunky Monkey is still the best, fight me

[@ryanr7423]

History of wine!!

[@dcastleb69]

I'm 54 years old and have yet to try Ben & Jerry's. Or Haagen-Daz. Have always been either poor or too cheap to pay for it.

[@advancetotabletop5328]

Back in the days when you *could* combine business and activism. Of course, you *started* with these core values as part of your business, not change it midstream (hi BUD) or hide it from the public. Anyone up for some Chik-N-Fil-A (sp) and some Ben and Jerry‘s? Thanks for the videos!

[@pamelamays4186]

My favorite flavor? Strawberry Cheesecake.

[@quincee3376]

Penn State has an awesome creamery and course.

[@edwardleemiller-eo8jp]

9:46 - well there’s at least one thing I can agree with them politically about. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LittleBlindChicken]

putin's dick-flavored ice-cream anybody?

[@Kim-xg9lg]

Very tasty yum yum