Author and independent journalist Brad Edmondson was in Tucson for the 2015 Tucson Festival of Books to discuss his book Ice Cream Social: The Struggle for Ben & Jerry’s Soul. Edmondson stopped by the KXCI studios while he was in town to tell us this story. From modest roots to iconic success, has always been committed to an insanely ambitious three-part mission: making the world’s best ice cream, supporting progressive causes, and sharing the company’s success with all stakeholders: employees, suppliers, distributors, customers, cows, everybody.
But it hasn’t been easy.
This is the first book to tell the full, inside story of the inspiring rise, tragic mistakes, devastating fall, determined recovery, and ongoing renewal of one of the most iconic mission-driven companies in the world.
No previous book has focused so intently on the challenges presented by staying true to that mission.
No other book has explained how the company came to be sold to corporate giant Unilever or how that relationship evolved to allow Ben & Jerry’s to pursue its mission on a much larger stage.
Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger
Héctor Tobar and Lynn Wiese Sneyd talked about the 13th Annual Tucson Festival of Books. Last year’s festival was canceled due to the pandemic,...
On May 24, 2014 more than a dozen Indigenous poets, storytellers, musicians and spoken word artists performed at an event entitled Our Land, Culture,...
On September 23, 2015, the YWCA Southern Arizona hosted part three of their ongoing Community Discussion on Mass Incarceration. Due to the ever growing...
