Ben & Jerry's Takes Steps to Solidify Leadership Position in Super Premium Ice Cream Market.Business Editors S. BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2002 Ben & Jerry's today announced a decision to reduce its workforce by six percent, or by 52 employees, as part of an overall plan to bolster its leadership position and fuel the future growth of this 25-year old company. Through this action, Ben & Jerry's will be better poised to meet U.S. market challenges and continue its strong record of innovation. "Even though this was a difficult decision, it is the right thing to do for the sake of the business and its long-term future," said Yves Couette, president and Chief Executive Officer. "Maintaining Ben & Jerry's as a Vermont-based business and furthering our long and notable legacy of social responsibility are among the most crucial things I can do as leader of this wonderful company." The workforce reduction, coupled with the recently announced plan to streamline manufacturing operations Manufacturing operations concern the operation of a facility, as opposed to maintenance, supply and distribution, health, and safety, emergency response, human resources, security, information technology and other infrastructural support organizations. , will allow Ben & Jerry's to redirect re·di·rect tr.v. re·di·rect·ed, re·di·rect·ing, re·di·rects To change the direction or course of. n. A redirect examination. re resources more strategically and compete more effectively. Ben & Jerry's will continue its tradition of treating employees fairly and with respect, and will provide those affected by today's decision with severance packages A severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. In addition to the employee's remaining regular pay, it may include some of the following:
About Ben & Jerry's Ben & Jerry's produces a wide variety of super premium ice cream, ice cream novelties A novelty is a small manufactured adornment, especially a personal adornment. In this sense, the word is usually used in the plural, novelties. The word is also used to denote novelty item. , low fat ice cream, low fat yogurt yogurt: see fermented milk. yogurt Semisolid, fermented, often flavoured milk food. Yogurt is known and consumed in almost all parts of the world. and sorbet, using Vermont dairy products dairy products dairy npl → produits laitier dairy products dairy npl → Milchprodukte pl, Molkereiprodukte pl and high quality, all natural ingredients. The company is committed to using milk and cream that have not been treated with the synthetic hormone, rBGH. Ben and Jerry's products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores The following is a list of convenience stores organized by geographical location. Stores are grouped by the lowest heading that contains all locales in which the brands have significant presence. , franchise Ben & Jerry's scoop shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry's, a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part mission statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry's contributes a minimum of $1.1 million annually(1) through corporate philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. that is primarily employee led. Contributions made via the Ben & Jerry's Foundation in 2001 totaled over $1.4 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry's philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. (1) annual contribution is adjusted upward to allow for sales growth and inflation |
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