They’re known affectionately as the "DQ Sisters” — Patty DeMint and Michelle Robey, siblings who pooled their money to fulfill their dream of opening a Dairy Queen franchise in Meaford, New York, in 2017. In the beginning it was all soft serve and sprinkles as the pair fostered a beloved community hub while going above and beyond for their employees — anything from offering money in times of need to delivering Christmas presents to their workers’ children. They also earned a reputation for hiring locals l ...

Mumbai: The Magnum Ice Cream Co. (TMICC), set to list as a standalone company after its demerger from Unilever Plc , is sharpening its focus on India by trying to turn festivals such as Diwali into “ice cream moments". Chief executive officer Peter ter Kulve said the maker of Kwality Wall’s and Magnum will look to build festive consumption and also expand its network of chillers to drive growth and premiumization.Also Read | How Ananth Narayanan plans to reshape BRND.ME Kulve said the company has not been ...

The founders of Ben & Jerry’s have called on parent company Unilever to allow the ice-cream brand to operate as an “independently owned company”. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who set up Vermont-headquartered Ben & Jerry’s in 1978 before Unilever’s acquisition in 2000, have penned a letter to Unilever ahead of the targeted separation of ice cream in mid-November. The planned spin-off was first announced early in 2024 and the entity then proclaimed as The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), which will be ...

Group 1 - Magnum CEO Peter ter Kulve emphasized that the company is not considering selling Ben & Jerry's and is focused on reclaiming market share and growing sales as it prepares for its spin-off from Unilever [1][3] - Unilever's ice cream business, which includes brands like Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Wall's, and Cornetto, is expected to hold over 20% of the approximately $88 billion global ice cream market, competing with rivals such as Nestle-backed Froneri [1] - The separation from Unilever has allowed Magnum to invest in supply chains, sales, and distribution, leading to a significant increase in market share last year [2] Group 2 - Unilever's CEO Fernando Fernandez is implementing changes to streamline management and enhance margins, with the company retaining less than 20% of the ice cream business post-listing [4] - The demerger will provide every Unilever shareholder with a relative stake in Magnum, which is expected to mitigate market volatility typically associated with an IPO [5] - Magnum's CFO Abhijit Bhattacharya stated that the split is beneficial for both Unilever and Magnum, allowing Unilever to focus its portfolio while giving Magnum the opportunity to improve margins [4][5]

Our way of business only works if the customer wants to work collaboratively, because we're reliant on them wanting to speed up and wanting to change and wanting to try new things.“We've just launched two new products with Iceland and we've got a new product coming out of Iceland next week. We built a business that is reliant on a partnership. In other words, it doesn't work unless the customer wants to work collaboratively. We've now delisted M&S because they didn't want to work in a collaborative manner.A ...

Core Viewpoint - The founders of Ben & Jerry's are advocating for the brand to operate independently from Unilever, arguing that the parent company has compromised its social mission and brand value [1][3]. Group 1: Founders' Concerns - Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield express that Unilever has not honored the original agreement made during the sale of Ben & Jerry's, particularly regarding the brand's ability to pursue its progressive social mission [2][3]. - The founders believe that Ben & Jerry's cannot thrive under Unilever's conglomerate structure, which they claim undermines the reasons customers support the brand [3][4]. Group 2: Recent Developments - Ben & Jerry's criticized Unilever for the dismissal of its CEO, alleging that the decision was influenced by the CEO's commitment to the brand's social mission rather than his performance [5]. - The brand claims it was excluded from the CEO appointment process, which Unilever has denied, asserting that it acted appropriately [5]. Group 3: Unilever's Position - A spokesperson for Magnum Ice Cream, part of Unilever, stated that Ben & Jerry's remains a valued part of the company and emphasized their commitment to the brand's unique three-part mission [6].

Core Viewpoint - The high-end ice cream market in China is experiencing a downturn, with previously popular brands struggling to maintain their appeal as consumers shift towards more affordable options that offer a better balance of price and quality [1] Industry Summary - The once-thriving high-end ice cream segment is now facing significant challenges, as consumer preferences have shifted towards value-oriented products [1] - The trend indicates a growing emphasis on cost-effectiveness and quality among consumers, leading to a decline in the demand for premium ice cream brands [1]

Group 1: Market Performance - The three major US stock indices showed mixed results, with the Nasdaq rising by 0.12%, the Dow Jones falling by 0.04%, and the S&P 500 declining by 0.19% [1] Group 2: Company News - Oracle's stock surged nearly 14%, reaching an all-time high, following the release of its fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations [1] - Oracle anticipates a more than 70% increase in cloud infrastructure sales driven by strong demand for cloud AI computing resources and explosive growth in physical AI computing infrastructure for the fiscal year 2026 [1] - Disney and Universal Pictures filed a copyright lawsuit against AI company Midjourney, accusing it of unauthorized use of their copyrighted materials to generate and distribute numerous copies of their famous characters [2] - Ant Group responded to reports about its plans to apply for a stablecoin license in Hong Kong and Singapore, stating it is accelerating investments and expanding collaborations in global financial management [3] - Haidilao has introduced a self-service lunch priced at 22 yuan in some locations, offering a variety of dishes with unlimited supply but imposing a fee for food waste [4] - General Mills is considering selling its Häagen-Dazs ice cream business in China, with potential asset disposal discussions expected to start in 2025, seeking a price in the hundreds of millions [5]

Core Insights - The summer ice cream market in 2025 is characterized by intense competition between traditional ice cream and emerging Gelato brands, with both types coexisting in convenience stores and shopping malls [1][10] Traditional Ice Cream Market - The traditional ice cream market underwent significant changes in 2024, with prices generally ranging from 1 to 10 yuan, and over 60% of consumers opting for ice creams priced below 5 yuan [1][3] - Major brands like Yili and Mengniu have introduced products priced between 3 to 10 yuan to attract price-sensitive consumers, while also focusing on health by using natural sweeteners and plant-based ingredients [3][10] - Innovations include collaborations with popular IPs and unique product designs, such as Nestlé's collaboration with "Crispy Shark" and Häagen-Dazs' various offerings [3] Gelato Market Growth - Gelato stores have seen rapid growth, with a reported increase of over 30% in the number of stores from 2023 to 2024, particularly in first- and second-tier cities [4][6] - Gelato is favored by younger consumers for its rich texture and diverse flavors, with brands like "Wild Man" and "Venchi" expanding their presence significantly [6][8] - Gelato emphasizes freshness and natural ingredients, aligning with consumer trends towards healthier eating, and offers a more complex production process compared to traditional ice cream [8][9] Market Dynamics - The competition between traditional ice cream and Gelato is expected to intensify, with traditional brands needing to innovate in pricing and product offerings, while Gelato brands focus on maintaining quality and expanding market reach [10]

Core Message - TriNet has launched a new brand campaign titled "Your Path, Our Purpose," which celebrates the journeys of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and their positive impact on communities and employees [1][2]. Group 1: Campaign Overview - The campaign features stunning portraits captured by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, showcasing the stories of SMBs [3]. - It employs a dynamic visual style and special effects by Emmy® award-winning Garson Yu, along with soundscapes created by composer Piers Baron, to immerse viewers in the narratives [3]. - The campaign aims to highlight the significant contributions of SMBs and TriNet's commitment to supporting them [5]. Group 2: Featured Businesses - The campaign follows four TriNet customers: - **Zap Surgical Systems**: Innovating in advanced surgical robotics with its ZAP-X platform, enhancing radiosurgery accessibility [6]. - **Van Leeuwen Ice Cream**: Evolved from a food truck in NYC to a national brand known for its unique dairy and vegan flavors [6]. - **Zymo Research**: A leader in biotechnology since 1994, focusing on epigenetics and Next-Gen Sequencing [6]. - **Good Culture**: Transforming the dairy market with organic, pasture-raised cultured foods, particularly cottage cheese [6]. Group 3: Marketing Strategy - The campaign will be broadcast nationwide across various platforms, including television, radio, digital media, and out-of-home advertising, targeting major markets like New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Atlanta [5].