Everyone knows Ben & Jerry’s is synonymous with ice cream. The flavors’ catchy names are well-known and loved all over the nation. The company started with humble beginnings and then took off — and it just keeps growing. This ice cream company does not need a lot of advertising. They are recognized on the freezer shelves in gas stations and super markets throughout the United States.
I have never been a big fan of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, however most of my friends love it. Weaknesses within the company include the need for experienced managers. We all know that hiring good people is critical in any business, but especially important for a company like Ben & Jerry’s. Actively recruiting talented people for these key positions would help the company tremendously.
Greek yogurt is typically terrible. There is an opportunity for Ben & Jerry’s to change that perception with their own frozen creation. There are threats within this opportunity that are listed below, but if Ben & Jerry’s could market this healthier treat in the correct way, there is a lot of opportunity for growth. We are all always looking for that healthy food item that doesn’t taste healthy — and this could be it.
This opportunity could also be a threat. The new Greek yogurts from Ben & Jerry’s contain as much as 5 grams of saturated fat in some of their popular flavors. And that’s for just a half-cup serving. No one eats just a half-cup of yogurt — two spoonfuls and you’re done. Another threat is that people are becoming more and more educated on what they eat. The most popular flavor last year was Half Baked, which includes 27 grams of sugar in just a half cup. Who eats just a half cup of ice cream? The number one flavor also includes interesting ingredients such as Sodium Bicarbonate and Carrageenan. This ingredient isn’t digestible and has no nutritional value. It is often found even in organic and “natural” products. Sodium Bicarbonate can cause excessive thirst and stomach cramps.
Even with these weaknesses and threats, Ben & Jerry’s is a trusted, well-respected company. As long as it continues to taste good, and they keep introducing new flavors, their current reputation will overcome any bad ingredients or excess of sugar. If the company stays on its current path, it should continue to thrive.
RESOURCES
I learned about some of the health issues surrounding greek yogurt.
I learned about the favorite flavors and ingredients, along with some of the history.
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