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Ben & Jerry's
 

BEN & JERRY'S was started in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. They soon became popular for their funky, chunky flavors, made from fresh Vermont milk and cream. The scoop shops feature a fun environment with a varied menu including cakes, gifts, baked goods and coffee drinks created from ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet flavors. Community involvement is an important element in being a successful BEN & JERRY'S franchisee.

Franchisor Background

Year Established:

  1978

Franchising Since:

  1981

IFA Member



Operating Units:

Franchised Units:796 99.4%  
Company-Owned Units:5 0.6%  
 ______ _____  
Total Operating Units:801 100%  
 

Geographic Distribution:

U.S.:584 72.6% In 39 States
Canada:20 2.5% In 5 Canadian Provinces
International:200 24.9% In 19 Foreign Countries
 ______ _____  
Total:804 100%  
 

North America:

States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:
DensityUnits    
1. California50
2. Florida26
3. New York22

Registered in Following Registration States:

   California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington

Financial Requirements

Investment:

Minimum Net Worth:$350K
Cash Investment:$80-120K
Total Investment:$175.3-451.3K
Average Total Investment:$113K
 

Fees:

Initial Franchise Fee:$32K
Average Franchise Fee:$32K
On-Going Royalty:3%
Average Royalty:3%
Advertising Fee:4%

Average Number of Employees:

   2 Full-time, 10 Part-time

Space Needs (in square footage):

   1,000

Preferred Sites:

   Free-standing Building, Storefront, Strip Center, Regional Mall

Other Sites:

   Kiosk, Interior Malls, Lifestyle Centers, Entertai

Encourage Conversions?

   Yes

Earnings Claims Provided?

   No

Listed in the SBA Registry?

   No

Support and Training

International Franchise Association:Yes
Canadian Franchise Association:No
Franchisee Association/Member:Yes, Member
Size of Corporate Staff:30
Site Selection Assistance?Yes
Lease Negotiation Assistance?Yes
Financial Assistance?Yes, Indirect
 

Marketing Support:

Co-Op Advertising:No
National Advertising:Yes
Regional Advertising:Yes
Local Advertising:Yes
Marketing Materials:Ad Slicks, Brochures, Catalogs, Coupons/rebates, Direct Mailers, Emails, Promotional Items, Radio Ads, Site Signs, Television Ads, Trade Show Exhibits, Videos
Additional Services:None Specified
Other Marketing Support:None Specified
 

On-Going Support:

Central Data Processing:Not Applicable
Central Purchasing:Not Applicable
Field Operation Evaluation:Included in Fees
Field Training:Included in Fees
Initial Store Opening:Included in Fees
Inventory Control:Included in Fees
Franchisee Newsletter:Included in Fees
Regional or National Meetings:Included in Fees
800 Telephone Hotline:Included in Fees
 

Training:

1. VT8 Days
 

Franchisee Qualifications

Ranked from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (important):
 
Financial Net Worth:5
General Business Experience:4
Specific Industry Experience:5
Formal Education:3
Psychological Profile:4
Personal Interview(s):5

Minority Representation

Units Owned by Minorities:

African-American:3
Asian-American:6
Hispanic:0
Native American:0
Other:N/A
Specific Minority:Although we strongly support the objectives of the NMFI, we do not yet have any specific programs in place at this time.

Terms of Contract

Term of Initial Contract:10 Year(s)
Term of Renewal Period:10 Year(s)
Passive Ownership:Not Allowed
Area Development Agreements?Yes, for 0 Year(s)
Sub-Franchising Contracts?No
Franchisees Allowed to Expand Within Territory?No

Expansion Plans

Projected New Units Over Next 12 months:

   45
U.S.:Yes, Various Markets
Canada:No
Overseas:Yes, Call International Division
 
 
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