Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream :: essays research papers

The Board of Directors of the Company has since 1988 formalized its basicbusiness school of thought by adopting a three-part "mission statement" for Ben & group AJerrys. The statement includes a " harvest-feast mission," "to make, distribute andsell the finest quality all natural churl cream" an "economic mission," "to betroth the Company on a survive financial basis...increasing value for oursh areholders and creating career opportunities and financial rewards for ouremployees" and a "social mission," "to operate the Company in a way thatactively recognizes the central procedure that business plays in the structure ofsociety by initiating innovative shipway to improve the quality of life of a broadcommunity local, issue and international." This statement has been furthersimplified by the Companys statement of "Leading with imperfect Values Acrossour Business." "Underlying the mission of Ben & Jerrys is th e determination to search new and creative ways of addressing all three parts, while safekeeping a deeprespect for individuals inside and outside the Company and for the communitiesof which they are a part." Since 1988, the Companys Annual Report toStockholders has contained a "social report" on the Companys performance duringthe year. The Companys social mission has always been about more thanphilanthropy, product donations and community relations. Ben & Jerrys hasstrived to integrate into its day-to-day business decisions a aid for thecommunity and to seek ways to lead with its progressive values.The Company makes specie contributions equal to 7.5% of its pretax profits tophilanthropy finished The Ben & Jerrys behind (the "Foundation"), CommunityAction Teams, which are employee led groups from each of its five Vermont sites,and through corporate grants. Excluded from the 7.5% are contributions out of a mickle of the proceeds of successive operations , not directly relating to Ben &Jerrys core business of the manufacturing and selling of Ben & Jerrys frozendesserts, such as a portion of the admission fees for rig tours. Also excludedfrom the 7.5% are corporate sponsorships that have as one of their purposes the forwarding of Ben & Jerrys marketing goals. For 1999, the 7.5% amounted toapproximately $1,120,000. The amount of the Companys cash contribution is subordinate to review by the Board of Directors from time to time in flow of theCompanys cash needs, its operating results, existing conditions in the industryand other factors deemed pertinent by the Board. See "The Ben & JerrysFoundation."In some instances where the Company pays royalties for the licensed use of aflavor name, the licensor donates all or a portion of these royalties tocharitable organizations.