Scoop Up Happiness: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day Returns

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day has returned. Customers can enjoy a free sweet treat from the flavorful ice cream company on April 8.

Free Cone Day is being celebrated in Scoop Shops around the world, and the company will be giving away free ice cream at all locations between 12 and 8 p.m. While fans of the frosty product can only get one cone at a time, the company allows for customers to get back in the line to get a second, or even third, if they wish to try other flavors.

According to Ben & Jerry’s official website, the first ever Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day took place in 1979. The promotion was the company’s way of thanking customers for their support during the ice cream shop’s first year in business. The first Ben & Jerry’s storefront was built in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

The first town outside of Vermont to host Free Cone Day was Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1984. By 1993, every Ben & Jerry’s store in the United States participated in the event, and by 2000, all Ben & Jerry’s stores worldwide were involved in this sweet promotion.

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Per a press release, in 2024, Ben & Jerry’s fans were so passionate about getting their free cones, the eatery served up over 1 million scoops. If those cones were laid down end to end, they would create a line of treats 80 miles long.

“Free Cone Day has always been about gratitude — we want to thank our fans for being the best fans in the world with free ice cream and a moment of pure joy,” said Dave Stever, Ben & Jerry’s CEO. “This year, more than ever, we’re reminded how powerful those small moments of happiness can be. We can’t wait to connect with our fans over a scoop of ice cream on the most Ben & Jerry-est day of the year!”

All flavors are included. These choices include fan-favorites such as Phish Food, Mango, Non-Dairy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Ice cream fans can snag their free cone at participating Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops worldwide on Tuesday, April 8.

How Did Ben & Jerry’s Start Its Sweet Journey?

Ben & Jerry’s started as a small ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978, founded by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The duo, who had little business experience, took a $5 correspondence course on ice cream making and invested $12,000 to open their first Scoop Shop.

Their brand quickly became known for its rich, chunky flavors and quirky names like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey. More than just an ice cream company, Ben & Jerry’s built a reputation for social activism, advocating for environmental sustainability, fair trade, and social justice causes. Despite being acquired by Unilever in 2000, the company maintains an independent social mission board to uphold its progressive values.

Subsequently, Cohen and Greenfield are considering buying back their company from Unilever due to disagreements over political and social activism, per The New York Post. They originally sold their ice cream brand to the conglomerate in 2000 for $326 million.

Despite Unilever’s assertion that the brand is not for sale, it plans to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry’s, into a publicly traded company. For Cohen and Greenfield to reclaim their brand, they would reportedly need billions.