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The release reads:
BEN & JERRY’S CELEBRATES STEPHEN COLBERT’S AMERICONE DREAM FLAVOR ANNIVERSARY
Fairtrade Flavor with The Colbert Report Host Turns 7 and Transitions to Non-GMO
On Valentine’s Day 2007 a love of Romeo and Juliet proportions was unveiled in the United States. This love followed the quickest way to one’s heart: via the stomach. February 14, 2007 was the official launch date of Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream ice cream. The delicious creation has been one of the most popular offerings ever by Vermont’s progressive ice cream purveyor, Ben & Jerry’s.
Colbert is the Comedy Central corres-pundit of the Emmy-award winning show The Colbert Report. The namesake of AmeriCone Dream recognized the potential of his flavor early on in the Ben & Jerry’s line-up, stating that eating it was a way for his fans “to enjoy him internally, as well as externally.” The show recently added a People’s Choice award as a second scoop of recognition to join Colbert’s pair of 2013 Emmys.
While there’s no debating that AmeriCone Dream would be the host’s favorite, the flavor has also climbed to the upper echelon of the Vermont ice cream maker’s offerings. AmeriCone Dream is one of only 3 flavors that has been sold in pints, quarts, mini-cups and by the scoop at Ben & Jerry’s franchised scoop shops. The combination is vanilla ice cream, with a caramel swirl and fudge-coated waffle cones - which Colbert is quick to point out: “…is the only time I waffle.” And the flavor’s popularity hasn’t waned since its inception, continuing to hold its spot in the very top of ice cream flavors appreciated by fans near and wide.
To celebrate the anniversary, Ben & Jerry’s will spread some peace, love and ice cream in the Big Apple delivering free scoops of AmeriCone Dream including full pints to each of Colbert’s studio audiences during the week of the flavor anniversary.
At the time of the flavor launch in 2007, Colbert was quick to claim that he would be bringing his own saltiness to Ben & Jerry’s typically sweet and liberal, save-the-world mentality, stating: “It’s great to see that they’ve finally brought some balance to the freezer case.” However, since then, it’s Colbert’s concoction that has done an impressive amount of good for the world. The host, who donates all of his proceeds of the flavor’s sales, has raised over a million dollars to support children’s causes, veterans’ efforts, and the environment.
Meanwhile, Ben & Jerry’s continues to do its part as a responsible company that espouses the philosophy: “business has a responsibility to give back to the community.” In 2014 AmeriCone Dream will transition along with the full line of flavors to be made entirely with non-genetically modified organisms by source. In addition, the flavor was recently added to the growing list of the company’s ice cream flavors that utilize Fairtrade ingredients (specifically vanilla, sugar and cocoa) thereby supporting farmers in developing countries by paying them a fair wage for their goods. “Simply folding Fairtrade ingredients into Stephen’s flavor provides an opportunity for farmers around the globe to reach their own AmeriCone Dreams of prosperity,” said Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder, Jerry Greenfield who has appeared on The Colbert Report numerous times. Greenfield plans to help celebrate at the February 12th taping. The first appearance by the ice cream duo and national flavor unveiling included an invitation for Colbert to join the Research and Development team in Vermont after the host suggested a Ronald Reagan flavor, with jelly beans… and bits of the Berlin Wall.
For more information about AmeriCone Dream, or Ben & Jerry’s commitment to transition fully to Fairtrade and sourced non-GMO ingredients in 2014 please visit www.benjerry.com.
About The Colbert Report
"The Colbert Report" airs Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. Full episodes, as well as clips, are posted for viewing the following day at www.ColbertNation.com with URL and embed links.
“The Colbert Report” is produced by Jon Stewart’s Busboy Productions, Inc. in association with Colbert’s Spartina Productions, Inc. Stewart, Colbert and Tom Purcell are the Executive Producers with Meredith Bennett, Barry Julien and Emily Lazar as Co-Executive Producers. The series’ Head Writer is Opus Moreschi and it is directed by Jim Hoskinson. David Bernath is the Executive in Charge of Production for COMEDY CENTRAL.
About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH* on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee-led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2012 totaled $1.8 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.
* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH treated cows and untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of our other ingredients can promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.
Want to own a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop? We’re looking for a few progressive entrepreneurs in key markets. Call 802.846.1500, extension 7818.
