SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – Feb 6, 2006 – Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, the funky & chunky ice cream company from Vermont, has announced it’s bringing milkshakes to the masses. A multi-year licensing agreement with PepsiCo will bring strong support to this project, as the two companies work together to bring the products to shelves later in 2006.
Like all other Ben & Jerry’s ice cream products, these super premium shakes will be made with rBGH-free milk and naturally good ingredients. They will come in the indulgent flavors consumers expect to see from Ben & Jerry’s. And, in true Ben & Jerry’s fashion, a portion of proceeds will be donated to charity.
“We’ve shaken up our super premium product line in this deliciously literal way to meet the needs of all the Ben & Jerry’s fans who prefer their euphoria shaken, not spooned,” said Walt Freese, CEO of Ben & Jerry’s.
“The name ‘Ben & Jerry’s’ is synonymous with both fun and naturally good indulgence,” said Dawn Hudson, president and CEO, Pepsi-Cola North America. “As we grow our non-carbonated beverage business, we intend to launch breakthrough products that will really ‘wow’ our consumers. Partnering with Ben & Jerry’s to offer bottled milkshakes is the perfect way to achieve that goal– like a cherry on top of a sundae.”
About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using dairy products from a Vermont dairy cooperative and high-quality ingredients. The company is committed to using milk and cream from cows that have not been treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH, and 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 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 contributes a minimum of $1.1 million annually through corporate philanthropy that is primarily employee led. Contributions made via the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2004 totaled over $1.2 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 fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.
About Pepsi
Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com) is the $4 billion refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo Inc. in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi ONE, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Pepsi Twist, Pepsi Vanilla, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Mountain Dew LiveWire, Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Free, Mug, Slice, Aquafina, Aquafina FlavorSplash, Aquafina Sparkling, Quaker Milk Chillers, Dole single-serve juices, Tropicana Juice Drinks and SoBe. The company also makes and markets North America’s best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.