February 02, 2017 // Franchising.com // Burlington, VT - A new player with a familiar name is rolling into the competitive novelties ice cream segment. Ben & Jerry’s will expand its offerings this month with Pint Slices - a round, single-serving of chunks and swirls, enrobed in a decadent chocolatey coating. It’s a to-go order of ice cream goodness that’s easy to take on the road, and hard to resist.
The ice cream novelties segment is a $4.2 billion business, according to Neilsen Scantrack (52 weeks ending Dec. 2016). “We know our fans love our pint flavors, they love our big chunks, and 82% of our fans already enjoy novelties,” said Dave Stever, Chief Marketing Officer for Ben & Jerry’s. “Now we want them to enjoy ours.” Stever added that the company expects its new business to be incremental.
Stever said part of the challenge of developing a novelty was figuring out a way to include the large chunks and swirls that Ben & Jerry’s fans have come to expect. “After years of exploring and refining new equipment, we finally figured it out,” Stever said. An early attempt to include a stick was abandoned because it just couldn’t fit. The shape and size of Ben & Jerry’s latest innovation mirrors a slice cut right out of the middle of the pint. Each Pint Slice is wrapped in a specially-designed, “easy open” pouch that keeps hands clean.
Ben & Jerry’s Pint Slices are made with Fairtrade certified, non-GMO sourced ingredients and are available in four flavors: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Vanilla Peanut Butter Cup, and Americone Dream.
All four flavors will be available in 3-count boxes nationwide beginning in February 2017. They will be found in the novelty section of the ice cream aisle (MSRP $4.99). Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pint Slices will also be sold individually (MSRP $2.99), and will be available in convenience stores and Scoop Shops nationwide.
To learn more or to find Pint Slices near you, go to www.benjerry.com/pintslices.
As an aspiring social justice company, Ben & Jerry’s believes in a greater calling than simply making a profit for selling its goods. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices in a number of ways including a focus on values-led sourcing. In 2015 the company completed its transition to using entirely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) ingredients by source as well as to fully source Fairtrade-certified ingredients wherever possible, which benefits farmers in developing countries. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed in 35 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. Ben & Jerry’s became a certified B Corp (Benefit Corporation) in 2012. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s employee-led grant programs totaled $2.5MM in 2016 to support economic and social justice, environmental restoration, and peace through understanding. For the inside scoop on Ben & Jerry’s visit www.benjerry.com.
SOURCE Ben & Jerry’s
Laura Peterson
Public Elations Manager, North America
Ben & Jerry's
Work 802 923-2679
Cell 802 825-2129
Ben & Jerry's produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients.