Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Ice Cream Brands

By charlie reese

Some food items become a global favorite and international franchises are very lucrative. Some ice cream brands have become household names and consumers are loyal to their chosen brand. The well-established flavors have been joined by more unusual ones and the manufacturers are not afraid to experiment.

Baskin-Robbins was founded in California in 1945 and claims to be the largest franchise of ice cream brand in the world. The company logo is familiar in more than thirty countries. Thirty-one original flavors form the basis of the sales, including Cherry Macaroon, Lemon Sherbert and Peppermint Fudge Ribbon. Rocky Road is another bestseller.

Ben & Jerry's grew from humble beginnings when two friends got together in business. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first ice cream parlor in Vermont and eventually sold their products across the world. The ice cream brand also sells frozen yogurt and sorbet. The two friends are well known for supporting charitable causes and supporting social campaigns. Their activism has involved environmental issues and wildlife. Fairtrade ingredients have been introduced. Every year, Ben & Jerry scoop shops take part in a Free Cone Day, giving away free ice cream cones. This ice cream has even made it into space as part of the crew's rations on the Space Shuttle!

The Dairy Queen chain of ice cream outlets and fast food restaurants is a familiar site in America and the ice cream brand is popular in other countries too. The first small ice cream shop opened in 1938 in Illinois. Today, the states with the most locations are Texas, Ohio and Minnesota. Other products in the range include malts, milkshakes, ice cream cake and ice cream sundaes. Customers also like The Blizzard Treat, which includes Oreo Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and M&M flavors.

The Haagen-Dazs company is another story of humble beginnings resulting in a world success. Two Polish immigrants founded the business in the Bronx, New York City in 1959. They opened their first store in Brooklyn in 1975 and the ice cream brand is now sold in fifty-three countries. The brand is known for using superior quality ingredients and the range also includes sorbet and frozen yogurt. The majority of flavors contain chocolate. In addition to the standard flavors available, there are limited edition flavors introduced each year. Permanent flavors include Banana Split, Mocha Almond Fudge, Sticky Toffee Pudding and Vanilla Fudge Brownie. - 16650

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