My Sweet Tooth and I Took a Factory Tour of This Iconic Ice Cream Brand

I will never turn down an opportunity to take a trip to Vermont. The state’s beautiful scenery, friendly people, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure make this special state one of my favorite places on Earth. And then there is the food! Fresh cheese, craft beer, and rich maple syrup are just a few of the staples that my family and I stock up on every time we visit the Green Mountain State. On our most recent trip to Vermont, we also included a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury. If you are wondering "Can you take tours of Ben & Jerry's factory," the answer is yes! A delicious morning of fun and ice cream was the highlight of our trip.

I have been a fan of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream since I was a teenager. At that time, my friends and I would purchase pints of our favorite flavors (chocolate fudge brownie was always my go-to) and consume them in one setting. While lower metabolism and better self-control in adulthood have cut down on my Ben & Jerry’s consumption, it remains my all-time favorite brand of ice cream. I was so excited to go to the source of all this deliciousness and find out how it was produced.

My family and I opted for a mid-morning tour time. I had purchased tickets for the factory tour online before the visit, so we were all set when we arrived. I was glad we did this because many of the tour times were already selling out.

We arrived a few minutes early and spent some time perusing the gift shop. The ringing of a cowbell was our signal that the tour was about to begin. We gathered around our friendly tour guide who led our small group of about 20 people into a viewing room where we watched a short film about the Ben & Jerry’s company. The film highlighted the history of the company and talked about how the product ingredients are sourced. It also focused on some of the philanthropic work the company promotes. 

Then it was on to see how the ice cream was made! This part was top secret and photography was not permitted. From an elevated observation perch, our group viewed the various production machines as our expert guide explained the whole ice cream-making process from soup to nuts. And speaking of our guide, did you know Ben & Jerry’s Factory employees get paid in ice cream? Mind-blowing! While they do receive a paycheck, they are also gifted three pints of free ice cream per week! Sorry OIYS, I think I may have found my next job!

Our tour concluded in the factory’s tasting room where we got to sample one of the factory’s products. The flavor of the day was mango, and let me tell you that it was fantastic.

The tour lasted about 30 minutes, but we ended up staying at the factory for much longer. Our sample of ice cream turned into a craving for more, so we stopped outside at the ice cream stand and purchased a few small cups of some of the other Ben & Jerry’s flavors. We also visited the flavor graveyard (where retired ice cream flavors go to rest) and the kids spent some time climbing on the structures at the fabulous onsite playground.

And we couldn’t leave the factory without getting a pint lid photo.

Have you visited the Ben & Jerry’s Factory? If so, what did you think about the tour? Please note that the factory does not run its production equipment every day, so you will want to check the schedule on the website if you want to see the production in action during your tour. Find out additional information about Ben & Jerry's tours at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory website. If you are interested in learning even more about the history of the company, I suggest reading the book Ben & Jerry's: The Inside Scoop: How Two Real Guys Built a Business with a Social Conscience and a Sense of Humor by Fred Lager.

You can discover even more fantastic Vermont food tours by reading 10 Fantastic Factory Tours You Can Only Take In Vermont. And if you are looking for more things to do near Waterbury, the article, This Walkable Stretch Of Shops And Restaurants In Small-Town Vermont Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination has you covered with some great suggestions!