Ben & Jerry's Go-To Manufacturer For Its Iconic Cookie Dough Chunks
Ben & Jerry's takes great pride in working with partners that prioritize high-quality ingredients and socially-responsible business practices, and according to their website, the maker of the crave-inducing cookie dough bits folded into their ice creams is no exception.
In 1988, Ben & Jerry's hired Flavor Guru and Primal Ice Cream Therapist Peter Lind (his title is a pun on the saying "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream," and his role as a therapist, as Lind describes, is helping people discover their favorite ice cream flavors. Lind's entire job is to eat ice cream and dream up unique combinations that will be popular among Ben & Jerry's fans, reports HuffPost. And while some of his flavor inventions find their way into Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough received no such fate. A collaboration with a fellow Vermont resident resulted not only in a beloved flavor but jobs for hundreds of people.
Businesses doing good
Lind approached Ted Castle, who was running Chessy's Frozen Custard in Vermont, to help him figure out how to create a cookie dough that could end up in a tempting ice cream flavor and remain gooey like raw cookie dough (via Rhino Foods). If you didn't already guess, they totally nailed it, and since 1991 says Ben & Jerry's, Castle has been providing Ben & Jerry's and others with cookie dough. Castle and his team have become industry leaders, sending out bulk shipments of ready-to-eat cookie dough to ice cream shops and restaurants.
Just like Ben & Jerry's, Rhino Foods is a certified B Corporation, a designation for businesses seeking to use business as a force for good. Supporting hundreds of employees, Castle has been recognized for his ethical business practices and has been honored by the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility for the programs he's created, including wellness efforts and financial assistance for team members in need, reports Vermont Biz.
The next time you dig into a pint of your favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor, you can feel good knowing you're supporting businesses that care.