BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Free ice cream all day at Ben & Jerry’s? No, it’s NOT an Internet prank, a hoax, or a practical joke. For more than three decades it has been the day to rush to your local Ben & Jerry’s and try the latest flavor or your old favorite – absolutely for free! On Tuesday, April 14, you can participate at your local Scoop Shop for Ben & Jerry’s 36th annual Free Cone Day.
Why did a company decide that giving away their product was the right thing to do? Ben & Jerry’s struggled like almost every business when it first began. Although there were the usual issues about needing more customers and running out of product, there was a clear understanding of how vital the community’s role is in any successful business. And so, just as a thank you, Ben & Jerry’s celebrated its first full year in business in 1979 by scooping free cones all day in the little town of Burlington, Vermont. Now, in 2015 Ben & Jerry’s has blossomed to coordinate a global giveaway in 36 countries resulting in over a million free scoops lovingly distributed.
The company has continued to evolve, expanding its role of being a responsible part of the community, while operating its values-led business. In 2015 Ben & Jerry’s is fighting for climate justice as its social mission focus with a goal of adding 500,000 ice cream fans to become climate activists. Of course the company knows that social action is a lot easier to swallow with a scoop of free ice cream.
“Free Cone Day is our favorite day of the year – it’s our biggest holiday! We get to thank our fans by showing them that we love them by giving away over a million scoops of ice cream,” said Ben & Jerry’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dave Stever. “At Ben & Jerry’s we love our planet, too and being able to make our fans happy while also raising awareness for climate justice one scoop at a time is extra gratifying.”
For more information about climate justice, visit www.benjerry.com/climate. To confirm Free Cone Day operating hours visit www.benjerry.com.
About Ben & Jerry’s®
As an aspiring social justice company, Ben & Jerry’s believes in a greater calling then simply making a profit for selling its goods. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices in a number of ways including a focus on values-led sourcing. In 2014 the company plans to complete its transition to using entirely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) ingredients by source as well as to fully Fairtrade-certified ingredients wherever possible, which benefits farmers in developing countries. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed in 35 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. Ben & Jerry’s became a certified B Corp (Benefit Corporation) in 2012. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s employee-led grant programs totaled $2.5MM in 2013 to support economic and social justice, environmental restoration, and peace through understanding. For the inside scoop on Ben & Jerry’s visit www.benjerry.com.
