Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc.: Background Note

Description

Ben & Jerry's makes super-premium ice cream under a tri-part mission to produce the finest quality all-natural ice cream, to be socially conscious and improve the quality of life of a broad community, and to operate profitably so that shareholder values continue to grow and employees enjoy career opportunities and financial rewards. The company has grown from one small ice cream parlor in a converted gas station to achieving sales of over $130 million in 1992. This note provides the background for the decision to be made in Iceverks (A): Ben & Jerry's in Russia.

Learning Objective

·To illustrate some of the difficulties involved in implementing a corporate social responsibility mission internationally. ·To highlight the importance of choice of joint venture partner and managing the partner relationship, given the potential for different expectations and perspectives of partners. ·To give students the opportunity to develop a strategy for international expansion that addresses social responsibility.

Keywords

corporate culture corporate responsibility