Summer might be winding down, but it’s not too late to enjoy a scoop of ice cream or three in the sun (or the shade).
If you were wondering what brands are searched for the most, we have your answer.
According to a survey of Google Trends data conducted by Coffeeness, Ben & Jerry’s is the most popular brand in a plurality of states.
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The Vermont-based chain came in No. 1 in 14 states, edging Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams by one, but nearly a dozen brands made the list.
That just goes to show when it comes to ice cream, it’s tough to get it wrong.
About the top two
While Ben & Jerry’s has been around for nearly half a century, Jeni’s is a much newer brand.
The latter was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 2002 and has quickly grown into a nationwide brand.
Unique flavors are a staple of Jeni’s, but Ben & Jerry’s basically invented the concept in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978, starting with a $5 correspondence course in making ice cream from Penn State University.
At Ben & Jerry’s, some of the most-famous flavors are Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia and Phish Food while Jeni’s most popular flavored include Double Dough and Brambleberry Crisp.
While the add-ins are the big feature for Ben & Jerry’s, Jeni’s depends on “a uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body” to stand out among many ice cream brands.
What about the rest?
In an ironic twist, Jeni’s was not the No. 1 choice in its home state.
That honor went to Graeter’s, a brand that has been based in Cincinnati since 1870.
Still using the French Pot method that is labor intensive and reduces the overall volume that can be made at one time, Graeter’s is the favorite brand in Kentucky and Indiana, too.
Graeter’s tied Braum’s and Blue Bunny Ice Cream for fourth-most searched brand.
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While Braum’s (based in Oklahoma) topped Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma, Blue Bunny was No. 1 in South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa, its home state.
They trailed Tillamook of Oregon, which was No. 1 in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, New Mexica, Utah and Wyoming.
Other brands to receive votes were Haagen Dazs, Turkey Hill, Blue Bell, Hudsonville and Halo Top Ice Cream.
About the surveyors
Coffeeness bills itself as a comprehensive resource for coffee enthusiasts that was established in 2008.
It offers detailed reviews and comparisons of coffee-related devices — from semi-automatic espresso machines to coffee grinders — to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
