Ice Cream Social: The Struggle for the Soul of Ben & Jerry's

Description

Ben & Jerry s has always been committed to an insanely ambitious three-part mission: making the world s best ice cream, supporting progressive causes, and sharing the companys success with all stakeholders: employees, suppliers, distributors, customers, cows, everybody. But it hasn t been easy. This is the first book to tell the full, inside story of the inspiring rise, tragic mistakes, devastating fall, determined recovery, and ongoing renewal of one of the most iconic mission-driven companies in the world. No previous book has focused so intently on the challenges presented by staying true to that mission. No other book has explained how the company came to be sold to corporate giant Unilever or how that relationship evolved to allow Ben & Jerry s to pursue its mission on a much larger stage. Journalist Brad Edmondson tells the story with an eye for details, dramatic moments, and memorable characters. He interviewed dozens of key figures, particularly Jeff Furman, who helped Ben and Jerry write their first business plan in 1978 and became chairman of the board in 2010. It s a funny, sad, surprising, and ultimately hopeful story. Cover Contents Foreword Prologue Main Characters One: “We’re Completely Insane, and We Need Your Help!” Two: A New Kind of Start-up Three: Progressive Sweatshop Four: Staffing the Social Mission Five: Money Starts Talking Six: Yo, I’m Not Your CEO Seven: The Gulf Was So Wide Eight: Leading with Progressive Values Nine: Unacceptable Choices Ten: The Sale Agreements Eleven: A Thousand Cuts Twelve: Counterattack Thirteen: Pursuing Linked Prosperity Epilogue Reflection Notes Sources and Further Reading Photo Credits Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z About the Author