About
Us
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., the Vermont-based manufacturer of
ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, was founded in 1978 in a renovated
gas station in Burlington, Vermont, by childhood friends Ben Cohen and
Jerry Greenfield. Ben and Jerry's products are distributed nationwide
and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience
stores, franchised Ben & Jerry's scoop shops, restaurants, and other
venues. Ben & Jerry's, a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary of Unilever,
operates its business on a three-part mission statement emphasizing
product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community.
When
you step into a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop, you're in for a whole
lot more than a treat -- you're in for the wholly
extraordinary Ben & Jerry's ice cream experience we call
"joy for the belly & soul."
Our
customers go to Ben & Jerry's scoop shops with a powerful set of
expectations that go way beyond the great taste of our ice cream. Ben
& Jerry's franchisees deliver on those expectations and more, serving
up euphoric flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet in an atmosphere
enhanced by a genuine commitment to outstanding customer service and
to community involvement. Backed by our unique brand and shared desire
to operate in a socially responsible way, our franchisees are harnessing
the power of "doing well by doing good."
We're
rapidly expanding our franchise network in key markets across the country,
and seeking area developers and single unit operators to be part of our growth. If you're interested
in becoming a Ben & Jerry's franchisee, please complete the Express
Request form below.
Why Ben & Jerry's?
- It's a fun,
viable and personally rewarding business opportunity.
- The strong reputation,
mission, history, and caring culture unique to Ben & Jerry's
- Tremendous brand
awareness with a loyal and passionate customer base that continues
to grow.
- Over 20 years
of proven franchising performance.
- Our franchisees
come first; we are available, accessible and provide all franchisees
a personal touch.
- We are not your
typical franchise company - our conservative development strategy
enables us to find the strongest, operators to open stores in "A"
locations only, not on every street corner.
- We support you
from start to finish - our training and support teams eliminate the
frustrations typically experienced in a start-up business by walking
you through site selection, store design, construction, your grand
opening and beyond.
- Four store models
that fit almost any real estate need ranging from 200 to 2000 sq.
ft.
- We offer extensive
training at Scoop U in Vermont and in your store.
- Continuous research
and development keeps new products and ideas flowing.
- Innovative marketing
and promotional campaigns throughout the year.
- Co-branding opportunity
with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
- Industry-leading
revenues.
What
does it take to become a Ben & Jerry's franchisee?
- Strong business
acumen and knowledge of how to develop and operate a business.
- Restaurant management,
retail management, or business ownership experience in the last 10 years.
- A full-time commitment
to building and developing the Ben & Jerry's franchise business.
- A minimum net worth
of $300,000 (excluding residence), of which $60,000 must be liquid.
 Answers
to Frequently Asked Questions:
- You don't make
the ice cream yourself; it's all made in Vermont.
- The scoop shop
menu includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, smoothies, shakes, cookies,
and brownies.
- Average total start-up
cost per shop is approximately $250,000.
Our franchisee fee is on a sliding scale from $30,000 to $9,000.
- Royalties are 2%
of gross sales; the marketing contribution is 4%.
- We do not offer
financing, but we do have relationships with national lenders who prefer
to work with our franchisees. This approval process can be expedited
to about 2-3 weeks.
- Your first store
could be open within six months of your initial inquiry
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