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Häagen-Dazs facts for kids

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Häagen-Dazs
Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Founded 1960; 65 years ago (1960) in Bronx, New York, U.S.
Founder Reuben and Rose Mattus
Headquarters Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Number of locations
900+
Area served
Worldwide
Products Ice cream
Owners

Häagen-Dazs is a famous American ice cream brand. It was started by Reuben and Rose Mattus in The Bronx, New York, in 1960. They began with just three classic flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee.

The very first Häagen-Dazs shop opened its doors in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976. Today, you can find Häagen-Dazs products all over the world. They sell many different treats, like ice cream cartons, ice cream bars, and even sorbet and frozen yogurt.

The Story of Häagen-Dazs

Häagen-Dazs' first shop
Häagen-Dazs' first store at 120 Montague Street, Brooklyn, New York

Reuben Mattus, who founded Häagen-Dazs, was born in Poland in 1912. His family moved to New York City in 1921. They joined an uncle who made Italian lemon-ice.

By the late 1920s, Reuben's family started making ice pops. Later, they made chocolate-covered ice cream bars. They sold these treats under the name Senator Frozen Products. They delivered them to local stores using a horse-drawn wagon.

In the 1950s, many big companies started selling ice cream at very low prices. Reuben decided to make a different kind of ice cream. He wanted to create a rich, high-quality ice cream that tasted amazing.

In 1959, he started his new ice cream company. He chose the name Häagen-Dazs because he thought it sounded Danish. This was a way to honor Denmark for how well they treated Jews during World War II. His wife, Rose Mattus, helped by giving out free samples. She dressed up nicely to make the ice cream seem fancy and special.

What's in a Name?

The name "Häagen-Dazs" was actually made up by Reuben Mattus. He wanted a name that sounded like it came from Denmark. He felt Denmark was known for good dairy products.

He also wanted the name to be unique and original. His daughter shared that her father would say many made-up words. He kept trying until he found a combination he liked. This is how the special name Häagen-Dazs was created.

Häagen-Dazs Today

Häagen-Dazs
Pralines & Cream Häagen-Dazs
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Häagen-Dazs products in a Hong Kong shopping mall

Häagen-Dazs offers many different ice cream flavors. You can find classic ones like vanilla and chocolate. They also have unique flavors like Vanilla Swiss Almond.

Häagen-Dazs is known as a "super-premium" brand. This means their ice cream is very dense. Not much air is mixed in when it's made. It also has a lot of butterfat, which makes it creamy. They use only egg yolks as a natural thickener.

You can buy Häagen-Dazs ice cream in grocery stores. They also have special shops where you can enjoy ice cream cones and sundaes.

Most Häagen-Dazs products around the world are made in France. In the United States and Canada, another company called Froneri makes them. Häagen-Dazs also has a special partnership in Japan.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Häagen-Dazs para niños

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