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{{short description|Ice cream brand}} {{short description|Ice cream brand}}
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{{Distinguish|Bryers|Dreyer's}} {{Distinguish|Bryers|Dreyer's}}
{{about|the ice cream brand|the brand of model horses|Breyer Animal Creations|the singular for the plural|Breyer (disambiguation)}} {{about|the ice cream brand|the brand of model horses|Breyer Animal Creations|the singular for the plural|Breyer (disambiguation)}}
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'''Breyers''' is an ] and frozen dessert brand with headquarters in ]. Founded in 1866, it is one of the oldest ice cream companies in the United States. '''Breyers''' is a brand of ] started in 1866 by William A. Breyer in ], ].

Since 1993, Breyers has been owned and managed by the British ], ].<ref name="unilever">{{cite web |title=Breyers |url=https://www.unileverusa.com/brands/ice-cream/breyers/ |publisher=Unilever |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=2024}}</ref><ref name="breyers-about">{{cite web|title=About Breyers History|url=https://www.breyers.com/us/en/about.html|date=2024|access-date=19 November 2024}}</ref>

Breyers manufactures dessert products described as ice cream or as ''frozen dairy desserts''. It is among the best-selling ice cream brands in the United States, having 2022 sales of $498 million.

When global ice cream sales declined in 2023, Unilever announced plans to sell its ice cream companies, including Breyers, by the end of 2025.<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |last=Ziady |first=Hanna|title= Ben & Jerry's and Magnum will form the core of an $8 billion ice cream company|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/19/food/unilever-ice-cream-spinoff-ben-jerrys/index.html |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=CNN |date=19 March 2024}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
] ]
In 1866, William A. Breyer began to produce and sell ice cream in ], ], first from his home, and later via horse and wagon on the streets.<ref name=breyers-about/><ref name="Ettinger2017">{{cite book|author=Amy Ettinger|title=Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBBGDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA15|date=27 June 2017|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-101-98420-8|page=15}}</ref> Breyer's son Henry incorporated the business in 1908. By 1918, Breyers produced one million ]s of ice cream annually.<ref name=breyers-about/> In 1866, William A. Breyer began to produce and sell ] in ], ], first from his home, and later via horse and wagon on the streets.<ref name="Ettinger2017">{{cite book|author=Amy Ettinger|title=Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBBGDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA15|date=27 June 2017|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-101-98420-8|page=15}}</ref> Breyer's son Henry incorporated the business in 1908. The formerly independent Breyer Ice Cream Company was sold to the ]/] in 1926.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/91f158124296f2a3cbc1a5b80e61e49b|title=Ice Cream Factory Closing After 128 Years; 240 Jobs Melting Away|last=Ivey|first=Dave|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> National Dairy then changed its name to Kraftco in 1968, and ] by 1975. Kraft sold its ice cream brands to ] in 1993, while retaining the rights to the name for yogurt products.<ref name=History />

The formerly independent Breyers Ice Cream Company was sold to the ]/] in 1926.<ref name="ivey">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/91f158124296f2a3cbc1a5b80e61e49b|title=Ice Cream Factory Closing After 128 Years; 240 Jobs Melting Away|last=Ivey|first=Dave|work=The Associated Press|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref> National Dairy then changed its name to Kraftco in 1968, and ] by 1975. Kraft sold its ice cream brands to Unilever in 1993, while retaining the rights to the name for yogurt products.<ref name=breyers-about/><ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Good-HumorBreyers-Ice-Cream-Company-Company-History.html |title=History of Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream Company|website=Fundinguniverse.com|publisher=Unilever|date=1996 |access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref>


Unilever purchased Breyers ice cream and merged it with Gold Bond and ] ice cream to create the ] division.<ref name=breyers-about/> Kraft retained the rights to produce Breyers-branded yogurt.<ref name="Goff">{{cite book |last1=Goff |first1=H. Douglas |last2=Hartel |first2=Richard W. |title=Ice Cream |date=2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4614-6096-1 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AWJDAAAAQBAJ&q=breyers |access-date=July 25, 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="NYT3">{{cite news |title=Unilever to Gain Breyers In Kraft Ice Cream Deal |last=Janofsky |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/09/business/company-news-unilever-to-gain-breyers-in-kraft-ice-cream-deal.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 9, 1993 |accessdate=July 12, 2024}}</ref> Unilever closed its last Breyers plant in Philadelphia in 1995.<ref name=ivey/> Good Humor-Breyers moved its headquarters from ], to ] and ] in 2007.<ref name="MBJ1">{{cite news |title=Unilever to close Green Bay office |last1= |first1= |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/10/08/daily32.html |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |date=October 11, 2007 |accessdate=July 15, 2024}}</ref> ] purchased Breyers ice cream in 1993 and merged it with Gold Bond and ] ice cream to create the ] division. Kraft retained the rights to produce Breyers-branded yogurt.<ref name="Goff">{{cite book |last1=Goff |first1=H. Douglas |last2=Hartel |first2=Richard W. |title=Ice Cream |date=2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4614-6096-1 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AWJDAAAAQBAJ&q=breyers |access-date=July 25, 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="NYT3">{{cite news |title=Unilever to Gain Breyers In Kraft Ice Cream Deal |last1=Janofsky |first1=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/09/business/company-news-unilever-to-gain-breyers-in-kraft-ice-cream-deal.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 9, 1993 |accessdate=July 12, 2024}}</ref> Unilever closed its last Breyers plant in Philadelphia in 1995.<ref name="AP1">{{cite news |title=Ice cream factory closing after 128 years; 240 jobs melting away |last1=Ivey |first1=Dave |url=https://apnews.com/article/91f158124296f2a3cbc1a5b80e61e49b |work=Associated Press |date=September 5, 1995 |accessdate=July 15, 2024}}</ref> Good Humor-Breyers moved its headquarters from ], to ] and ], in 2007.<ref name="MBJ1">{{cite news |title=Unilever to close Green Bay office |last1= |first1= |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2007/10/08/daily32.html |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |date=October 11, 2007 |accessdate=July 15, 2024}}</ref>


==Products== ==Products==
Breyers groups its dozens of products in three flavor categories:<ref name="products">{{cite web |title=Breyers - All Flavors |url=https://www.breyers.com/us/en/products.html |publisher=Breyers |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=2024}}</ref> In 2024, the Breyers frozen dessert products are organized in three categories:<ref name="products">{{cite web |title=Breyers - All Flavors |url=https://www.breyers.com/us/en/products.html |publisher=Breyers |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=2024}}</ref>
* ''Classics'' made with milk and cream with natural colors and flavors, * ''Classics'' made with milk and cream with natural colors and flavors,
* ''Better For You'' desserts manufactured to be low in calories with lower ] content and no sugar added for flavor * ''Better For You'' desserts manufactured to be low in calories with lower ] content and no sugar added for flavor
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Generally by choice of ingredients, Breyers manufactures its frozen desserts to be either "original ice cream" or "frozen dairy dessert", both in numerous variations of composition, flavors, and consumer preferences for specialty diets.<ref name=products/><ref name="riddle">{{Cite web |last=Riddle |first=Holly |date=2 February 2023 |title=The Untold Truth Of Breyers |url=https://www.mashed.com/339136/the-untold-truth-of-breyers/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |publisher=Mashed |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="demas">{{Cite web |last=Demas |first=Alex |date=21 May 2024 |title=Claims That Breyers Doesn't Sell 'Real' Ice Cream Are False |url=https://thedispatch.com/article/claims-that-breyers-doesnt-sell-real-ice-cream-are-false/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |publisher=The Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref> Some 60% of Breyers products are ice cream and 40% are frozen dairy desserts.<ref name=riddle/> Generally by choice of ingredients, Breyers manufactures its frozen desserts to be either "original ice cream" or "frozen dairy dessert", both in numerous variations of composition, flavors, and consumer preferences for specialty diets.<ref name=products/><ref name="riddle">{{Cite web |last=Riddle |first=Holly |date=2 February 2023 |title=The Untold Truth Of Breyers |url=https://www.mashed.com/339136/the-untold-truth-of-breyers/ |access-date=2024-11-13 |publisher=Mashed |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="demas">{{Cite web |last=Demas |first=Alex |date=21 May 2024 |title=Claims That Breyers Doesn't Sell 'Real' Ice Cream Are False |url=https://thedispatch.com/article/claims-that-breyers-doesnt-sell-real-ice-cream-are-false/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |publisher=The Dispatch |language=en-US}}</ref> Some 60% of Breyers products are ice cream and 40% are frozen dairy desserts.<ref name=riddle/>


Examples of ice cream in the Breyers ''Classics'' category include "Homemade Vanilla", "Chocolate", and "Cherry Vanilla".<ref name=products/> ''Better For You'' products include those made to be ]-free, ]-free, sugar-free, and "CarbSmart", among others.<ref name=products/> The ''Cookies & Candies'' category has products made with branded ingredients, such as ], ], ] or cookie pieces.<ref name=products/> Examples of ice cream in the Breyers ''Classics'' category include "Homemade Vanilla", "Chocolate", and "Cherry Vanilla".<ref name=products/> ''Better For You'' products include those made to be ]-free, ]-free, sugar-free, and "Carb Conscious", among others.<ref name=products/> The ''Cookies & Candies'' category has products made with branded ingredients, such as ], ], ] or cookie pieces.<ref name=products/>


In the United States, the ] (FDA) ingredient requirements for frozen dessert products are defined in ], subchapter B.<ref name="cfr">{{cite web |title=Frozen desserts, Title 21, Subchapter B, Part 135 |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-135 |publisher=Code of Federal Regulations, US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=27 March 1998}}</ref> As detailed in Part 135.110, the FDA regulation for ice cream manufacturing requires the contents of ] and total milk solids to not be less than 10% for each component.<ref name=cfr/> Breyers original ice cream products in the ''Classics'' category contain at least 10% milk fat and total milk solids to meet the regulated ingredient requirements.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/> (see ] for each product).<ref name=products/> In the United States, the ] (FDA) ingredient requirements for frozen dessert products are defined in ], subchapter B.<ref name="cfr">{{cite web |title=Frozen desserts, Title 21, Subchapter B, Part 135 |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-135 |publisher=Code of Federal Regulations, US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=27 March 1998}}</ref> As detailed in Part 135.110, the FDA regulation for ice cream manufacturing requires the contents of ] and total milk solids to not be less than 10% for each component.<ref name=cfr/> Breyers original ice cream products in the ''Classics'' category contain at least 10% milk fat and total milk solids to meet the regulated ingredient requirements.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/> (see ] for each product).<ref name=products/>

As of 2014, some flavors of Breyer's ice cream contains ] as an additive. Propylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in a car antifreeze and it is clear fluid made by "treating propylene with chlorinated water to form the chlorohydrin, which is then converted to the glycol, an alcohol, by treating it with a sodium carbonate solution."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duprey |first=Rich |date=November 1, 2014 |title=FDA Says Antifreeze Ingredient Propylene Glycol Is Safe to Eat - Have You Had Your Fill Today? |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/business/fool/article/FDA-Says-Antifreeze-Ingredient-Propylene-Glycol-5863153.php |work=]}}</ref> Propylene glycol is formulated into Breyer's fat-free and Carb Smart ice cream to make it easier to scoop.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zinczenko |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2aWaAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA175 |title=Eat It to Beat It!: Banish Belly Fat-and Take Back Your Health-While Eating the Brand-Name Foods You Love! |date=2013-12-31 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-345-54794-1 |page=175 |language=en}}</ref>


===Ice cream=== ===Ice cream===
Breyers is one of the oldest manufacturers of ice cream in the United States.<ref name="delish">{{cite web |last=Braun Davison|first=Candace |title=11 Things You Should Know Before Buying Breyers Ice Cream |url=https://www.delish.com/food-news/g3540/things-you-should-know-before-buying-breyers-ice-cream/ |publisher=Delish |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=9 August 2016}}</ref>


Breyers ice cream products are made from milk, cream, sugar, ], and flavors derived from natural sources, such as ].<ref name=products/><ref name=demas/> Since 2016, Breyers has participated in a partnership with the ] to produce its vanilla flavors from sustainably-sourced vanilla beans.<ref name=riddle/><ref name="vanilla">{{cite web |title=Breyers: Certification Seal for Vanilla |url=https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/find-certified/breyers/ |publisher=Rainforest Alliance |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=2024}}</ref> Vanilla is a best-selling brand of Breyers ice cream.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=delish/> Breyers ice cream products are made from milk, cream, sugar, ], and flavors derived from natural sources, such as ].<ref name=products/><ref name=demas/> Since 2016, Breyers has participated in a partnership with the ] to produce its vanilla flavors from sustainably-sourced vanilla beans.<ref name=riddle/><ref name="vanilla">{{cite web |title=Breyers: Certification Seal for Vanilla |url=https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/find-certified/breyers/ |publisher=Rainforest Alliance |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=2024}}</ref>


As an example of the composition of Breyers ice cream, the sugar-free vanilla ice cream is 68% water, 22% ]s, 6% fat, and 4% ].<ref name="fdc-van-ice">{{cite web |title=Breyers ice cream, sugar-free, vanilla per 100 g |url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170264/nutrients |publisher=FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, the Breyers sugar-free ice cream provides 143 ]s of ].<ref name=fdc-van-ice/> As an example of the composition of Breyers ice cream, the sugar-free vanilla ice cream is 68% water, 22% ]s, 6% fat, and 4% ].<ref name="fdc-van-ice">{{cite web |title=Breyers ice cream, sugar-free, vanilla per 100 g |url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170264/nutrients |publisher=FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=1 April 2019}}</ref> In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, the Breyers sugar-free ice cream provides 143 ]s of ].<ref name=fdc-van-ice/>

Vanilla is the best-selling brand of Breyers ice cream, and Breyers sells more vanilla ice cream than competitors in the United States.<ref name=riddle/><ref name="delish">{{cite web |last=Braun Davison|first=Candace |title=11 Things You Should Know Before Buying Breyers Ice Cream |url=https://www.delish.com/food-news/g3540/things-you-should-know-before-buying-breyers-ice-cream/ |publisher=Delish |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=9 August 2016}}</ref>


===Frozen dairy dessert=== ===Frozen dairy dessert===
Breyers ''frozen dairy desserts'' are manufactured with ], ] (or ] syrup), sugar or a ], ], ], and various other ingredients that may include ], ], ], ], and ] ]s.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=fdc-bb/> Breyers ''frozen dairy dessert'' products are manufactured specifically to be different from the original ice cream products with the intent to provide a smoother texture, less fat, and lower calories.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/> Breyers ''frozen dairy desserts'' are manufactured with ], ] (or ] syrup), sugar or a ], ], ], and various other ingredients that may include ], ], ], ], and ] ]s (label image).<ref name=riddle/><ref name=fdc-bb/> Breyers ''frozen dairy dessert'' products are manufactured specifically to be different from the original ice cream products with the intent to provide a smoother texture, less fat, and lower calories.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/>


As an example of composition in a Breyers frozen dairy dessert, the product ''Birthday Blast'' is 38% carbohydrates, 7% fat, and 4% protein.<ref name="fdc-bb">{{cite web |title=Birthday Blast, Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert per 100 g|url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/2030771/nutrients |publisher=FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=28 October 2021}}</ref> In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, the Breyers ''Birthday Blast'' frozen dairy dessert provides 228 calories of food energy.<ref name=fdc-bb/> As an example of composition in a Breyers frozen dairy dessert, the product ''Birthday Blast'' is 38% carbohydrates, 7% fat, and 4% protein.<ref name="fdc-bb">{{cite web |title=Birthday Blast, Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert per 100 g|url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/2030771/nutrients |publisher=FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture |access-date=13 November 2024 |date=28 October 2021}}</ref> In a reference amount of {{cvt|100|g}}, the Breyers ''Birthday Blast'' frozen dairy dessert provides 228 calories of food energy.<ref name=fdc-bb/>


===Consumer concerns and feedback=== ===Consumer feedback===
In 2013, Breyers introduced frozen desserts made with ]s (section above) that were intended to create smooth, low-calorie products.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/> However, the new desserts evoked complaints by consumers who were accustomed to the traditional "all-natural" Breyers ice cream.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/><ref name="barry">{{cite news |last=Barry |first=Dan |title=Ice Cream’s Identity Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/dining/remembering-when-breyers-ice-cream-was-you-know-ice-cream.html |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=15 April 2013}}</ref> In 2013, Breyers introduced frozen desserts made with ]s (section above) that were intended to create smooth, low-calorie products.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/> However, the new desserts evoked complaints by consumers who were accustomed to the traditional "all-natural" Breyers ice cream.<ref name=riddle/><ref name=demas/><ref name="barry">{{cite news |last=Barry |first=Dan |title=Ice Cream’s Identity Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/dining/remembering-when-breyers-ice-cream-was-you-know-ice-cream.html |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=15 April 2013}}</ref>


In a 2022 survey of consumer preferences for ice cream and ''Better For You'' frozen dairy desserts, including Breyers products, "all-natural" and a short list mainly of dairy ingredients with natural sweeteners, reduced sugar or no added sugar were the preferred attributes.<ref name="sipple">{{cite journal |vauthors=Sipple LR, Racette CM, Schiano AN, Drake MA |title=Consumer perception of ice cream and frozen desserts in the "better-for-you" category |journal=Journal of Dairy Science |volume=105 |issue=1 |pages=154–169 |date=January 2022 |pmid=34763919 |doi=10.3168/jds.2021-21029 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030221010006}}</ref> In a 2022 survey of consumer preferences for ice cream and ''Better For You'' frozen dairy desserts, including Breyers products, "all-natural" and a short list mainly of dairy ingredients with natural sweeteners, reduced sugar or no added sugar were the preferred attributes.<ref name="sipple">{{cite journal |vauthors=Sipple LR, Racette CM, Schiano AN, Drake MA |title=Consumer perception of ice cream and frozen desserts in the "better-for-you" category |journal=Journal of Dairy Science |volume=105 |issue=1 |pages=154–169 |date=January 2022 |pmid=34763919 |doi=10.3168/jds.2021-21029 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030221010006}}</ref>


==Confusion with Dreyer's==
===Discontinued yogurt===
In the ] and ],<ref name=History>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Good-HumorBreyers-Ice-Cream-Company-Company-History.html |title=History of Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream Company|website=Fundinguniverse.com |access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref> Breyers ice cream is sometimes confused with ] ice cream.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gellene |first1=Denise |title=East vs. West in Ice Cream Fight : Breyers' Attempt to Scoop Dreyer's Breeds Confusion |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-19-fi-11910-story.html |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 1986}}</ref> Henry Breyer founded ''Breyers'' in 1908 in ], while William Dreyer and Joseph Edy co-founded Edy's Grand Ice Cream in 1928 in ]. The root of the confusion dates to 1953, when "Edy's Grand Ice Cream" was changed to "] Grand Ice Cream". Seeking to eliminate the confusion this created, Dreyer's changed its brand name in the home market of Breyers from "Dreyer's Grand" back to "Edy's Grand" in 1981.<ref name=Edy>Paul B. Brown & Steve Kichen: "The Class of 1983: Breaking the Barriers," Forbes, November 7, 1983, p.168</ref> Around that same time Breyers had begun an expansion toward the West Coast—the home market of Dreyer's—and by the mid-1980s was distributing ice cream throughout the western U.S. and Texas.<ref name="IceCream"/> Unlike Dreyer's, Breyers kept its brand name nationally, and as a result, both Breyers and Dreyer's can be found on store shelves in the western U.S. and Texas.<ref name=IceCream>{{cite web|url=http://www.icecream.com |title=Ice Cream |website=IceCream.com |access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref>
''Breyers Yogurt'' was a brand of ] owned by ] then by ], a former ] frozen foods manufacturer. After CoolBrands ran into financial trouble, it was sold in 2007 to Healthy Food Holdings, an affiliate of ], a private equity firm based in ].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

==Yogurt==
'''Breyers Yogurt''' was a brand of ], owned by ] then by ], a former ] frozen foods manufacturer. After CoolBrands ran into financial trouble, it was sold in 2007 to Healthy Food Holdings, an affiliate of ], a private equity firm based in ].{{cn|date=November 2024}}


The yogurt was manufactured under license from Unilever at an upstate New York facility until the licensing agreement was terminated and the Breyers Yogurt line was discontinued in April 2011.<ref name="North Lawrence"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127102328/http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110118/NEWS05/301189949 |date=2011-01-27 }}, ''Watertown Daily Times'', January 18, 2011</ref> Catterton continued to produce ] yogurt but without the Breyers co-branding until it sold the company in August 2013 to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://finance.danone.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=95168&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1846408|title=Danone acquires YoCrunch, a mix-in toppings specialist, to support continued yogurt growth in the USA|website=Finance.danone.com|date=August 2013|access-date=2015-03-24|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150412015246/http://finance.danone.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=95168&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1846408|archive-date=2015-04-12|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-08-09/danone-buys-yocrunch-yogurt-topping-maker-to-grow-in-u-s-|title=Danone Buys YoCrunch Yogurt-Topping Maker to Grow in U.S.|website=Bloomberg.com|date=August 2013}}</ref> The yogurt was manufactured under license from Unilever at an upstate New York facility until the licensing agreement was terminated and the Breyers Yogurt line was discontinued in April 2011.<ref name="North Lawrence"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127102328/http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110118/NEWS05/301189949 |date=2011-01-27 }}, ''Watertown Daily Times'', January 18, 2011</ref> Catterton continued to produce ] yogurt but without the Breyers co-branding until it sold the company in August 2013 to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://finance.danone.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=95168&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1846408|title=Danone acquires YoCrunch, a mix-in toppings specialist, to support continued yogurt growth in the USA|website=Finance.danone.com|date=August 2013|access-date=2015-03-24|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150412015246/http://finance.danone.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=95168&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1846408|archive-date=2015-04-12|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-08-09/danone-buys-yocrunch-yogurt-topping-maker-to-grow-in-u-s-|title=Danone Buys YoCrunch Yogurt-Topping Maker to Grow in U.S.|website=Bloomberg.com|date=August 2013}}</ref>

==Commerce==
Breyers is part of the Unilever ice cream group of companies, which include ], ], ], and others.<ref name=cnn/><ref name="unilever-group">{{cite web |title=Our Compass Organisation: introducing Unilever’s five new Business Groups |url=https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2022/our-compass-organisation-introducing-unilevers-five-new-business-groups/ |publisher=Unilever |access-date=20 November 2024 |date=7 October 2022}}</ref> In 2022, Breyers had $498 million of sales revenue in the United States.<ref name="berk">{{cite web |last=Berk |first=Brian |title=2022 State of the Industry: Ice cream category sees bright future ahead |url=https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/95998-2022-state-of-the-industry-ice-cream-category-sees-bright-future-ahead |publisher=Dairy Foods |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=22 November 2022}}</ref>

When 2023 ice cream sales declined globally, Unilever announced that it would divest its ice cream group of companies, including Breyers, by the end of 2025.<ref name=cnn/>

==Confusion with Dreyer's==
In the ] and ], Breyers ice cream is sometimes confused with ] ice cream.<ref name=History/><ref name="lat">{{cite news |last=Gellene |first=Denise |title=East vs. West in Ice Cream Fight: Breyers' Attempt to Scoop Dreyer's Breeds Confusion |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-19-fi-11910-story.html |access-date=25 June 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 1986}}</ref> Henry Breyer founded ''Breyers'' in 1908, while William Dreyer and Joseph Edy co-founded Edy's Grand Ice Cream in 1928 in ].<ref name=breyers-about/><ref name=History/>

The root of the confusion dates to 1953 when "Edy's Grand Ice Cream" was changed to "] Grand Ice Cream".<ref name=History/> Seeking to eliminate the confusion this created, Dreyer's changed its brand name in the home market of Breyers from "Dreyer's Grand" back to "Edy's Grand" in 1981.<ref name=IceCream/> Around that same time, Breyers had begun an expansion toward the West Coast — the home market of Dreyer's — and by the mid-1980s, was distributing ice cream throughout the western United States and Texas.<ref name="IceCream"/> Unlike Dreyer's, Breyers kept its brand name nationally, and as a result, both Breyers and Dreyer's can be found on store shelves in the western United States and Texas.<ref name=IceCream>{{cite web|url=https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/dreyers/our-story |title=Dreyer's: Our Story |website=IceCream.com|date=2023 |access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 20:43, 20 November 2024

Ice cream brand Not to be confused with Bryers or Dreyer's. This article is about the ice cream brand. For the brand of model horses, see Breyer Animal Creations. For the singular for the plural, see Breyer (disambiguation).
Brand logo
Product typeFrozen dessert
OwnerUnilever
CountryUnited States
Introduced1866; 159 years ago (1866)
Previous ownersKraft Foods Inc.
Websitebreyers.com

Breyers is a brand of ice cream started in 1866 by William A. Breyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

History

Breyer ice cream truck, c. 1915

In 1866, William A. Breyer began to produce and sell iced cream in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first from his home, and later via horse and wagon on the streets. Breyer's son Henry incorporated the business in 1908. The formerly independent Breyer Ice Cream Company was sold to the National Dairy Products Corporation/Sealtest in 1926. National Dairy then changed its name to Kraftco in 1968, and Kraft by 1975. Kraft sold its ice cream brands to Unilever in 1993, while retaining the rights to the name for yogurt products.

Unilever purchased Breyers ice cream in 1993 and merged it with Gold Bond and Good Humor ice cream to create the Good Humor-Breyers division. Kraft retained the rights to produce Breyers-branded yogurt. Unilever closed its last Breyers plant in Philadelphia in 1995. Good Humor-Breyers moved its headquarters from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Toronto and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, in 2007.

Products

In 2024, the Breyers frozen dessert products are organized in three categories:

  • Classics made with milk and cream with natural colors and flavors,
  • Better For You desserts manufactured to be low in calories with lower carbohydrate content and no sugar added for flavor
  • Cookies & Candies, which contain pieces of cookies or branded candies.

Generally by choice of ingredients, Breyers manufactures its frozen desserts to be either "original ice cream" or "frozen dairy dessert", both in numerous variations of composition, flavors, and consumer preferences for specialty diets. Some 60% of Breyers products are ice cream and 40% are frozen dairy desserts.

Examples of ice cream in the Breyers Classics category include "Homemade Vanilla", "Chocolate", and "Cherry Vanilla". Better For You products include those made to be gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and "Carb Conscious", among others. The Cookies & Candies category has products made with branded ingredients, such as peanut butter, fudge, toffee or cookie pieces.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ingredient requirements for frozen dessert products are defined in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, subchapter B. As detailed in Part 135.110, the FDA regulation for ice cream manufacturing requires the contents of milk fat and total milk solids to not be less than 10% for each component. Breyers original ice cream products in the Classics category contain at least 10% milk fat and total milk solids to meet the regulated ingredient requirements. (see Nutrition Facts label for each product).

As of 2014, some flavors of Breyer's ice cream contains propylene glycol as an additive. Propylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in a car antifreeze and it is clear fluid made by "treating propylene with chlorinated water to form the chlorohydrin, which is then converted to the glycol, an alcohol, by treating it with a sodium carbonate solution." Propylene glycol is formulated into Breyer's fat-free and Carb Smart ice cream to make it easier to scoop.

Ice cream

Breyers ice cream products are made from milk, cream, sugar, tara gum, and flavors derived from natural sources, such as vanilla. Since 2016, Breyers has participated in a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to produce its vanilla flavors from sustainably-sourced vanilla beans.

As an example of the composition of Breyers ice cream, the sugar-free vanilla ice cream is 68% water, 22% carbohydrates, 6% fat, and 4% protein. In a reference amount of 100 g (3.5 oz), the Breyers sugar-free ice cream provides 143 calories of food energy.

Vanilla is the best-selling brand of Breyers ice cream, and Breyers sells more vanilla ice cream than competitors in the United States.

Frozen dairy dessert

Breyers frozen dairy desserts are manufactured with skim milk, corn syrup (or maltitol syrup), sugar or a sugar substitute, polydextrose, glycerin, and various other ingredients that may include whey, carob bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and added micronutrients (label image). Breyers frozen dairy dessert products are manufactured specifically to be different from the original ice cream products with the intent to provide a smoother texture, less fat, and lower calories.

As an example of composition in a Breyers frozen dairy dessert, the product Birthday Blast is 38% carbohydrates, 7% fat, and 4% protein. In a reference amount of 100 g (3.5 oz), the Breyers Birthday Blast frozen dairy dessert provides 228 calories of food energy.

Consumer feedback

In 2013, Breyers introduced frozen desserts made with food additives (section above) that were intended to create smooth, low-calorie products. However, the new desserts evoked complaints by consumers who were accustomed to the traditional "all-natural" Breyers ice cream.

In a 2022 survey of consumer preferences for ice cream and Better For You frozen dairy desserts, including Breyers products, "all-natural" and a short list mainly of dairy ingredients with natural sweeteners, reduced sugar or no added sugar were the preferred attributes.

Confusion with Dreyer's

In the Western U.S. and Texas, Breyers ice cream is sometimes confused with Dreyer's ice cream. Henry Breyer founded Breyers in 1908 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while William Dreyer and Joseph Edy co-founded Edy's Grand Ice Cream in 1928 in Oakland, California. The root of the confusion dates to 1953, when "Edy's Grand Ice Cream" was changed to "Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream". Seeking to eliminate the confusion this created, Dreyer's changed its brand name in the home market of Breyers from "Dreyer's Grand" back to "Edy's Grand" in 1981. Around that same time Breyers had begun an expansion toward the West Coast—the home market of Dreyer's—and by the mid-1980s was distributing ice cream throughout the western U.S. and Texas. Unlike Dreyer's, Breyers kept its brand name nationally, and as a result, both Breyers and Dreyer's can be found on store shelves in the western U.S. and Texas.

Yogurt

Breyers Yogurt was a brand of yogurt, owned by Kraft Foods then by CoolBrands International, a former Canadian frozen foods manufacturer. After CoolBrands ran into financial trouble, it was sold in 2007 to Healthy Food Holdings, an affiliate of Catterton Partners, a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The yogurt was manufactured under license from Unilever at an upstate New York facility until the licensing agreement was terminated and the Breyers Yogurt line was discontinued in April 2011. Catterton continued to produce YoCrunch yogurt but without the Breyers co-branding until it sold the company in August 2013 to Group Danone.

See also

References

  1. Amy Ettinger (27 June 2017). Sweet Spot: An Ice Cream Binge Across America. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-101-98420-8.
  2. Ivey, Dave. "Ice Cream Factory Closing After 128 Years; 240 Jobs Melting Away". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  3. ^ "History of Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream Company". Fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  4. Goff, H. Douglas; Hartel, Richard W. (2013). Ice Cream. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-4614-6096-1. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  5. Janofsky, Michael (September 9, 1993). "Unilever to Gain Breyers In Kraft Ice Cream Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  6. Ivey, Dave (September 5, 1995). "Ice cream factory closing after 128 years; 240 jobs melting away". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  7. "Unilever to close Green Bay office". Milwaukee Business Journal. October 11, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "Breyers - All Flavors". Breyers. 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  9. ^ Riddle, Holly (2 February 2023). "The Untold Truth Of Breyers". Mashed. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  10. ^ Demas, Alex (21 May 2024). "Claims That Breyers Doesn't Sell 'Real' Ice Cream Are False". The Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ^ "Frozen desserts, Title 21, Subchapter B, Part 135". Code of Federal Regulations, US Food and Drug Administration. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  12. Duprey, Rich (November 1, 2014). "FDA Says Antifreeze Ingredient Propylene Glycol Is Safe to Eat - Have You Had Your Fill Today?". Seattle Post Intelligencer.
  13. Zinczenko, David (2013-12-31). Eat It to Beat It!: Banish Belly Fat-and Take Back Your Health-While Eating the Brand-Name Foods You Love!. Random House Publishing Group. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-345-54794-1.
  14. "Breyers: Certification Seal for Vanilla". Rainforest Alliance. 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Breyers ice cream, sugar-free, vanilla per 100 g". FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  16. Braun Davison, Candace (9 August 2016). "11 Things You Should Know Before Buying Breyers Ice Cream". Delish. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Birthday Blast, Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert per 100 g". FoodData Central, US Department of Agriculture. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  18. Barry, Dan (15 April 2013). "Ice Cream's Identity Crisis". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  19. Sipple LR, Racette CM, Schiano AN, Drake MA (January 2022). "Consumer perception of ice cream and frozen desserts in the "better-for-you" category". Journal of Dairy Science. 105 (1): 154–169. doi:10.3168/jds.2021-21029. PMID 34763919.
  20. Gellene, Denise (June 19, 1986). "East vs. West in Ice Cream Fight : Breyers' Attempt to Scoop Dreyer's Breeds Confusion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  21. Paul B. Brown & Steve Kichen: "The Class of 1983: Breaking the Barriers," Forbes, November 7, 1983, p.168
  22. ^ "Ice Cream". IceCream.com. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  23. North Lawrence Dairy Done Archived 2011-01-27 at the Wayback Machine, Watertown Daily Times, January 18, 2011
  24. "Danone acquires YoCrunch, a mix-in toppings specialist, to support continued yogurt growth in the USA". Finance.danone.com. August 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
  25. "Danone Buys YoCrunch Yogurt-Topping Maker to Grow in U.S." Bloomberg.com. August 2013.

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