The History of Haagen-Dazs
60 years ago, two Polish immigrants from the Bronx decided to create a new luxury in ice cream. They invented a recipe, dreamed up a name and made it happen. Today, we still stand for that kind of creativity and imagination and continue to transform the finest ingredients into the most luxurious ice cream to by enjoyed by all. Take a look at our journey.
1960
Reuben and Rose Mattus had a vision for changing the world of ice cream. At a time when others were cutting corners and pumping their ice cream with air, our creative founders set out to do something better.
Using only the finest ingredients, their rich, velvety ice cream created a category all its own. With three simple flavors – Vanilla, Chocolate and Coffee – and a playful made-up name--the Häagen-Dazs® brand and a new kind of luxury was born.
1966
When Mattus set his sights on Strawberry, he knew that only the best varietal would do. It took him six years to find the perfect sweet red berries for his ice cream. He launched the flavor in 1966, and over 50 years later, our dedication to using the finest berries has made our Strawberry ice cream a fan favorite.
1976
Reuben’s daughter Doris opens the first Häagen-Dazs® shop in Brooklyn Heights, NY, introducing Brooklynites to his delicious, velvety ice cream in every hand-pulled scoop. The shop on Montague Street remains today.
1986
On Valentine’s Day, Häagen-Dazs® introduces bars, a whole new line to love.
1988
Just two years after the introduction of bars, Häagen-Dazs® launched the Vanilla Milk Chocolate Almond flavor. The new bar combined the creamy vanilla ice cream that Häagen-Dazs® fans have loved for years with an irresistible crunch of almonds and milk chocolate, placing it in stores and fans’ hearts everywhere.
1993
Fans of fruit rejoice with the launch of Häagen-Dazs® Sorbet.
1998
Forever seeking inspiration, Häagen-Dazs® discovered Dulce de Leche in South America. We set out to recreate the regional favorite as ice cream, but finding balance between texture and flavor proved challenging. In the spirit of innovation, Häagen-Dazs® developed its own thicker, richer caramel that holds up to the ice cream and still transports you to another place.
2008
Häagen-Dazs® is committed to using only the best ingredients the world has to offer. So we knew we had to act when the bees that pollinate one-third of the foods we eat, including many of the ingredients we use every day, started to struggle. To date, we’ve donated more than $1,000,000 to keep them buzzing, and to keep our ice cream as sweet as it’s always been.
2013
Häagen-Dazs® falls in love with the creamy texture of gelato. Inspired, we set out to make our own version, bringing a little Italian flair to the freezer.
2016
Häagen-Dazs® begins phasing out GMO ingredients from its products and sets a goal to transition out all GMO ingredients from every flavor. Today, flavors made with no GMO ingredients include vanilla, vanilla bean, strawberry, rum raisin, chocolate chocolate chip, pineapple coconut, coffee, chocolate and chocolate peanut butter.
2021
Inspired by the passion and creativity of our founders, we’re tapping into a new generation of tastemakers to share their vision with the world. Because we believe luxury is defined by the many, not the few. And you can always find it right where you are. That’s Dazs.