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Ben & Jerry’s to return to Japan with Omotesando Hills store

39 Comments

Ben & Jerry’s Super Premium Ice Cream, which has 815 stores in 27 countries, will open its first store in Japan at Omotesando Hills on April 14.

The brand was in Japan once before, opening in 1997 in a tie-up with 7-Eleven, but was not successful and soon pulled out of the market.

Ben & Jerry’s was founded in 1978 by two young men who shared a love of ice cream. Today, the company is owned by Unilever and is said to be the most popular ice cream brand in the United States.

Many American celebrities love the ice cream, including Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Kim Kardashian. Also, the brand collaborates with famous musicians. The John Lennon Foundation participated in the creation of “Imagine World Peace” ice cream. One of the biggest hit albums of Elton John, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” was used for the menu, too. “Cherry Garcia” ice cream was named after the guitarist of the legendary rock band, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia.

In addition to the ice cream menu, there will be chocolate and banana flavored sundaes, shakes with chunks of caramel, brownies and strawberries, as well as some original flavors for Japan. Coffee for the frozen shakes comes through fair trade. The store will also be selling tumblers, T-shirts and other gift items.

© Japan Today

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39 Comments
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I want Cherry Garcia!

2 ( +3 / -2 )

how about "gotcha matcha" for the one of the japan orginals?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Finally.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I want Cherry Garcia!

I'll second that. When I want to satisfy my ice cream craving in Japan I have to settle for a miniscule Haagen-Dazs cone.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

as well as some original flavors for Japan

I'm afraid to ask. I hope not something like Almond Krunch Berry 48.

As much as I love Ben & Jerry's, I'd rather have Chipotle open up shop here.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I wonder why the Japanese didn't go for Ben & Jerry's the first time around. I better lose the spare tires before treating myself to a Chunky Monkey or a Karamel Sutra! @the_sheriff a few months ago, there was an article on a "Taste of America" or something in that vein. One of the stores featured was a burrito place in Roppongi. It isn't called "Chipotle" but the way it's set set up (both architecturally and the menu) SCREAMS "Chipotle". So, I'd say there is a Chipotle" here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The title of this article mentions "B&Js to return to Japan"? But, later goes on to say " B&Js will open its first store in Japan at Omotesando Hills on April 14." I hope Wendy`s returns to Japan :(

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Love Ben and Jerry's! They make ice cream the way it was meant to be, delicious, rich and full of goodies. Would love to see them cometo Kyushu, but like anything that arrives in Japan, we'll probably have to wait 5 years before it gets here. But for anyone that has never had their ice cream is most definitely missing out. Baskin Robbins, Hagen Daz (with the exception of "Cold Stone") can't come even close in taste and quality.

The only thing is, when they market the ice cream or advertise it, mentioning Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton might not instill confidence of quality or enticing a customer to buy their products. Honestly, if you never heard of Ben and Jerry's, but heard these women's name it would probably NOT have me jumping on the nearest train to get their ice cream. Just sayin.....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

In its first foray into the Japanese market, the brand did not have a store. The ice cream was sold in 7-Eleven stores. Wendy's has already returned to Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

31 (Baskin Robbins) is the best ice cream in Japan. Arguably the world. B&J a poor second or worse. Rocky road to die for. although not today.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Not a very good time to come to Japan (cold stone has too many stores now), but I hope they succeed enough to set up a couple of stores.

I would love to have chocolate mint ice creams from Laura Secord any day...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I want to try this Stephen Colbert flavor "Ice cream officially appraised by bespectacled American hero of right-wing propaganda will blast away the relentless heat of socialist humbuggery."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

BJ is overrated

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Good news, and I'm for the ice Colbertream. Last summer I got by with a basic vanilla from New Zealand at my local yaoya...pretty good. B&J is the real deal. Of course, garmakaikishi, everyone has the right to their own opinion and taste...maybe you like simpler ice cream and that is fine but no need to snark.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wooohooo!!!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I want my 'cool brittania' (Vanilla and strawberries with chocolate covered shortbread)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The problem is that they downplayed their eccentricity. When they sold at 7-11, the flavors were pretty standard. If you're a foreign brand, you need to play up your differences.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

BJ is overrated

You're probably right, but arguing about taste is rather futile, isn't it?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Great. Another ice cream company which makes a lot of flavors, but here we'll get 20 varieties of grass.

I prefer gelatto.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sweeeeeeeeeet!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I learned of this brand from watching the Colbert Report. Can't wait for the summer.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

High priced fashion ice cream shops here and there. I never eat ice cream in winter. Too too cold. There are three Baskin Robbin shops I could go to that are within driving range. I really liked Ben & Jerry's and maybe they'll open shops up here and there, too. Just wonder about the price.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still happy with the local "Hobson" outside my station, not that cheap but very tasty. Also no need to take a train to a B&J, as we also got a "Baskin & Robbins" at the next station.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Gotta wonder what kind of prices they will charge. Most likely, they are gonna milk ya.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Jack Stern & cactusJack since the yen is strong, it ought to be comparable to stateside... crossing my fingers!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

B&J definitely overrated

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

They can put a Ben and Jerry's in Omotesando and a man on the moon, and they can't put a Crispy Cream in Sapporo?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Sadly, it's unlikely that the two B&J flavors promoted by American late-night celebrities, Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream and Jimmy Fallon's Late Night Snack (an ice cream with potato chip bits?!) will make the cut at Omotesando Hills.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

great, I haven't had Häagen-Dazs since I found out earlier last year that it was produced in Gunma Prefecture and their threshold is 20Bq. I had to resort to Hokey pokey New Zealand Icecream which is pretty good, but only 2 choices of flavour in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Many American celebrities love the ice cream, including... Kim Kardashian"

I didn't know who she was, so I checked her out on Yahoo - yowza! I bet she doesn't eat too much B & J!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ah hello Ben & Jerry's we meet again my old friend. Please please bring over Phise food and the cookie dough flavours!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't like to generalize (but I'm going to anyway), but I remember taking 3 visiting Japanese students to a Ben & Jerry's back in the States, and all of them said "amai" (sweet) right away after their first taste, and it appeared to me they had trouble finishing it. I've learned over the years that "amai" is definitely not a compliment coming from a Japanese person immediately after tasting something (unless they're referring to fresh fruit). I always assumed B&J's was not in Japan because their ice cream was excessively sweet for Japanese taste.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm happy, but don't know if it will be more than a fad in Japan. I remember their 7-11 tie up. Matcha with white choco chunks. Not popular with the locals. Though now with cold stone perhaps having chunks of stuff in the ice cream is more acceptable and familiar

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream was started by a couple of broke entrepreneurs at cold Vermont in 1978. The History Channel did an hour-show on them not too long ago:

http://www.history.com/videos/vermont-falls-for-ben-and-jerry

It kinda explained why their ice creams have so much flavor - turns out, Ben has sinus issues that makes it difficult for him to taste, hahaha.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I bet she doesn't eat too much B & J!

Ba doom bop.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"31 is the best ice cream"

Let's Haagen Daz, anyone?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"the best ice cream"

Unfortunately I can only afford that 98 yen for 200ml "Super Cup" lacto-ice stuff.

It's good on Anna Miller's Dutch apple pies, tho I can't afford those, lol.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I imagine the wait for an ice cream cone in 10 degrees temp will be about 2 hours...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Finally here!! Not only for the taste, but don't forget the fantastic environmental work Ben & Jerry's are doing. "GreenEnergy/fairtrade/organic/CO2reduction/nonGMO-ecoContainers-icecream" This is a corporate responsibility other brands should follow! AND it tastes good!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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