THE BATCH IS BACK! Ben & Jerry’s Launches Limited Elton John Flavor Nationally to Raise Money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The people have spoken. After launching a one-week, limited edition flavor to recognize Sir Elton John’s first trip to Vermont and to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Ben & Jerry’s has heard enough. Fans of Elton John’s music and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream literally sent hundreds of supportive e-mails and many more phone calls to Ben & Jerry’s Vermont headquarters calling for the return of the popular flavor.

“It’s been one of the most amazing things,” said Co-Founder Jerry Greenfield. “We’ve seen fans who’ve been excited before about a flavor and cool partnerships, but this has been something else.”

Undoubtedly, John’s decades of music making, multiple Grammy’s, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, and even knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has brought some considerable clout to the partnership.

“There was only one way we could honor Sir Elton in true Ben & Jerry’s fashion,” said Greenfield. The company produced a custom flavor consisting of ‘an outrageous symphony of decadent chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks.’ And the name -- Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road— is a play on one of Elton John’s most popular song titles.

"I am so grateful to Ben & Jerry’s for their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and for extending the Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road ice cream flavor to a national audience," says Sir Elton John. "A portion of the proceeds generated from this project will help support the life-saving work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).”

The ice cream company, known as a global leader in social responsibility, has been flattered to work with Sir Elton and his Foundation. The partnership will focus on enhancing awareness of EJAF’s work, including cross promotion and a membership drive for EJAF. The Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road flavor will be available in a limited-batch on shelves of leading retailers from mid-May through summer 2009. The flavor is currently available in Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops nationwide, trumpeting another pun of one of Elton John’s famous songs, claiming “The Batch Is Back!”

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 pledge not to 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 approximately $1.8 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.

* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH treated and untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of our other ingredients can promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.

About EJAF

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 (EJAF-US) and in the United Kingdom in 1993 (EJAF-UK) by founder and chairman Sir Elton John. Together, both entities have raised over $150 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries around the globe since inception. Today, EJAF is one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. EJAF-US’s current grant-making priorities target HIV prevention programs in the Southern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America; HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized and vulnerable populations; and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion of sexual health for adolescents.

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