My top 10 Highlights from Ben & Jerry’s in 2017

2017 was a year of ups and downs. But as we close out the year, I took a minute to reflect back on the last twelve months and all that we’ve accomplished. And knowing that our top ten lists crush on benjerry.com, I decided to share my top ten highlights from our work last year. Here they are in chronological order:

1. Instagram Stories Launch

We were one of the first brands to advertise in Stories and used the opportunity as part of our Pint Slices launch. The creative was simple and fun and the results were great. (h/t to Driven on the production).

2. Cereal Splashbacks Launch

“If it’s not fun, why do it?”

To launch our Cereal Splashbacks line, we created a giant cereal bowl in Grand Central Station you could jump into. It was a blast. (h/t to LeadDog on the production).

3. Climate March in DC

We went down to DC with over 50 employees (on Amtrak) and a full content team to participate in and cover the 2017 Climate March in DC. It was a moving experience.

4. Launching “One Love” with Ziggy Marley

It was an honor to partner with the Marley family to launch our “One Love” flavor. We did it in style at the Roxy Theater in LA with Ziggy Marley joining to sign One Love with his kids.

5. Why “Pulling Out of the Paris Climate Agreement Was Totally, Definitely the Right Move” blog post.

When Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord (that we had worked hard to support), we knew we needed to do something, but another earnest refute of the decision just seemed like it would go unnoticed. We used satire, and it worked. This article is the second most consumed page ever on benjerry.com and we achieved the traffic in about three days. More importantly, we drove over 50,000 people to 350.org’s action page.

6. Freezer Reprise

It’s no secret I’m a huge Phish fan, so when we get to collaborate with their team and create something the fans love, I’m all in. Phish playing 13 consecutive nights at MSG was a historic achievement we had to help commemorate with a special flavor.

7. Say Yes to Second Chances in Florida

In January, we were introduced to Desmond Meade by Umi Selah. After that first meeting, we knew Ben & Jerry’s would do what we could to help Desmond and an amazing grassroots organization in Florida gain back the right to vote for formerly incarcerated citizens. We worked hard to support their movement bring ice cream to events, using our shops in Florida, and through an innovative online to offline conversion approach for petitions, we pioneered. We won’t know officially for another month or so, but it is looking like we should have the initiative on the ballot come November.

8. Pathways to Paris

During the COP in Paris in December 2015, we partnered with 350.org and Pathways to Paris to help them produce two amazing nights of activism and music. When they wanted our support for the 2017 program at Carnegie Hall, we jumped at the chance and produced the live stream for them. It was an inspired night.

9. We Are Here, a revival of the Poor People’s Campaign

Our last big event of 2017 is leading us right into our focus for 2018, the Poor People’s Campaign, co-chaired by Rev. Dr. Barber and Rev. Dr. Theoharis. On the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s call for a Poor People’s Campaign to compact poverty, racism, and militarism, we supported the movement during the day and participated in a direct action at the capital. Then help a rally/concert that night at the Howard Theater with the likes of Aloe Blacc and Maxwell. 

10. Team float

This one is out of chronological order, but I feel the need to end on the most important part of the year (and of my work)... THE TEAM! This summer we floated down the Winooski River for the day to relax. It was a small breather in an otherwise hectic year.

These just happen to be my favorites. The team across the world accomplished many other amazing things, from standing up to refugee rights, to launching non-dairy in Europe, to leading ice cream in e-commerce.

Massive thanks to everyone at Ben & Jerry’s, specifically my team, Justin, Jay, and Brodie, who work so passionately to make it all happen.

Bring on 2018!