Ben & Jerry’s 31^st Annual Free Cone Day!

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben & Jerry’s, who broke the mold for businesses showing you could make a profit while giving back to the community, is proud to celebrate its 31^st annual Free Cone Day, the original community give-back. Why did they do it thirty-one years ago? The two guys, who had surprised themselves by surviving their first year in business, genuinely wanted to just say “thanks.”

Around the globe from 12:00 noon – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st the socially-minded ice cream maker, with the fun and funky flavors, will be scooping it out for free to share the love just like the company has since 1979. Scoop Shops will proudly introduce the company’s newest values-led flavor, Chocolate Macadamia. The flavor features Fair Trade vanilla, Fair Trade chocolate and sustainably-harvested macadamia nuts. “Our newest flavor intentionally sources ingredients from around the world so that it provides social, economic and environmental benefits by virtue of the way we source them,” said CEO (Chief Euphoria Officer) Walt Freese from the company’s Vermont headquarters. “It proves that thirty years later we can continue to make business decisions that are good for the growers, their families and their communities around the world. Oh, did mention the new flavors we’ve just launched are out of this world too!” Freese added.

The newest flavors available at your local Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop include:

• Chocolate Macadamia – A Flavor with a Mission! Fair Trade Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Creams Swirled Together with Fudge-Covered Macadamia Nuts
• Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road – Chocolate Ice Cream, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, Butter Brickle & White Chocolate Chunks
• Orange & Cream – A Swirly Sorbet of Orange with Vanilla Ice Cream Blended to a Harmonious Summertime Treat

Of course, all your old favorites will be waiting for you too!

Free Cone Day is more than just a chance to get a free scoop, it is also when the company involves the community at large in their biggest shin-dig of the year. “Basically Free Cone Day is our birthday party, except we like to share the presents,” said Retail Operations Director Debra Heintz. There’s always great energy at your local Scoop Shop, guest celebrity scoopers, music and other entertainment happening throughout the day. Additionally, Scoop Shops work with local non-profit organizations to raise awareness and generate donations, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

Log on to www.benjerry.com to determine the closest participating Scoop Shop near you. Now that you’ve got the scoop you know where you can get the scoop! See you April 21st!

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 2008 totaled over $1.7 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.

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