Baskin-Robbins

Baskin-Robbins is a chain of ice cream restaurants that became one of the first to franchise their stores in the 1940s. Their signature number, 31, was introduced to reference the fact that Baskin Robbins offered an ice cream flavor for every day of the month. They were also one of the first ice cream establishments that allowed patrons to sample flavors before they decided.

Fast Facts

1. Founders: Burt Baskin, Irv Robbins
2. Year established: 1945
3. Industry: Food
4. Phone: (800) 859-5339
5. HQ: Glendale, California
6. Owned by Dunkin' Brands, Inc.
7. Over 5,600 locations in over 30 countries

Key Dates

1. 1945: Irv Robbins opens Snowbird Ice Cream in Glendale
2. 1946: Burton's Ice Cream Shop opens in Pasadena
3. 1949: Baskin and Robbins buy a dairy to standardize the menus of all locations
4. 1950: "Pink spoon" (for taste testing) introduced
5. 1953: All stores renamed Baskin-Robbins
6. 1967: Burt Baskin dies
7. 1972: Company goes public for a short while
8. 1970s: International locations open
9. 2008: Irv Robbins dies

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