Good Humor
Good Humor is an American ice cream brand originating in Youngstown, Ohio, founded in 1920 by confectioner Harry Burt, who developed the first chocolate-coated ice cream bar on a stick and introduced the motorized ice cream truck for mobile vending.[1][2] Burt's innovation addressed the messiness of handheld ice cream by applying a compatible chocolate coating and inserting a wooden stick for handling, a process he patented in 1922 after testing it with his daughter, who confirmed its practicality.[1][2] The brand's early success stemmed from deploying white-uniformed vendors in customized vehicles equipped with bells and portable freezers, establishing regular neighborhood routes that brought treats directly to consumers and revolutionizing ice cream distribution in the 1920s.[3][4] Following Burt's death in 1926, the company expanded nationwide under family and subsequent ownership, reaching peak operations with thousands of trucks by the mid-20th century before shifting emphasis to supermarket sales amid changing urban dynamics and costs.[1] Acquired by Unilever in 1961, Good Humor remains a prominent brand under the company's ice cream division, offering classic bars like the Toasted Almond and King Cone alongside newer varieties, while evoking nostalgia through limited truck operations and seasonal marketing.[5][1]
History
Origins with Harry Burt and Early Innovations (1920–1929)
Harry Burt, a confectioner operating an ice cream parlor in Youngstown, Ohio, developed the Good Humor ice cream bar in 1920 by creating a smooth chocolate coating compatible with vanilla ice cream, which he applied to a rectangular block of the frozen treat.[1][2] To address the messiness of handheld consumption, Burt inserted a wooden stick borrowed from his existing "Good Humor" candy sucker product, allowing customers to eat the bar without direct contact.[3][6] His daughter tested the initial prototype, confirming its appeal, and Burt named the novelty after his popular candy line.[1][7] Burt secured a patent for the chocolate coating process and associated production equipment in 1923, enabling scalable manufacturing of the hand-held treat.[8] Initially sold from his parlor, the product faced distribution challenges due to melting in warm weather, prompting Burt to pioneer mobile vending.[4] In 1922, he launched the first motorized ice cream delivery vehicles in the United States, converting automobiles into refrigerated units to sell bars directly to neighborhoods, a departure from stationary retail models.[9] These early trucks, often equipped with bells to announce their arrival, allowed for on-the-spot sales and marked the inception of the iconic "Good Humor man" vendor system.[7] By the mid-1920s, Burt's innovations expanded production capacity and geographic reach, with franchised vendors operating customized vehicles that preserved product integrity through insulated compartments.[2] Following Burt's death in 1926, his family continued refining the model, standardizing white pickup trucks with refrigeration by the decade's end to enhance visibility and efficiency.[9] This period established Good Humor as a leader in portable frozen novelties, emphasizing direct-to-consumer sales over traditional parlor distribution.[10]Expansion and Meehan Ownership (1930–1961)
In 1929, New York stock trader Michael J. Meehan acquired 75 percent of Good Humor Corporation of America for $500,000, securing national rights to the brand previously developed by Harry Burt.[7] The registered owner of the stock was Meehan's wife, Elizabeth Higgins Meehan, alongside shares held by associates such as the wife of stock speculator John J. Raskob.[7] Under Meehan family control, which lasted until 1961, the company emphasized national distribution and the franchised vendor model, building on Burt's patented ice cream bar and truck innovations.[2] By 1931, Good Humor had expanded operations to Detroit and the East Coast, including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, while establishing major franchises in California, Oklahoma, and Maryland, alongside service in growing urban centers such as Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia, and Cleveland.[7] During the Great Depression, the company adapted to economic constraints by diversifying beyond full trucks to include bicycles, shoulder boxes, three-wheelers, and pushcarts, maintaining profitability through affordable pricing that positioned ice cream as an accessible treat.[7] Vendors, uniformed in white to project cleanliness and reliability, rang bells to signal availability, preserving the brand's direct-to-consumer appeal amid widespread hardship.[11] Post-World War II suburban growth fueled further expansion, with the truck fleet reaching 2,000 vehicles by 1950, accounting for 90 percent of sales.[7] Vendors underwent rigorous training and could earn up to $100 per week, reinforcing the "Good Humor Man" as a cultural icon in neighborhoods.[7] Product lines evolved with introductions like the Chocolate Eclair Bar and Strawberry Shortcake Bar, complementing the original Good Humor Bar while prioritizing premium, hand-dipped quality.[11] Trucks shifted to models such as converted 1939 Chevrolet pickups in the 1930s and later Ford F-Series after 1947, optimizing for efficiency and visibility.[7] The Meehan era ended in 1961 when the family sold Good Humor to Thomas J. Lipton, a Unilever subsidiary, transitioning the company from independent family operation to corporate oversight.[11] This period solidified Good Humor's market position through resilient adaptation and scaled franchising, despite lacking detailed public financial disclosures beyond acquisition costs and fleet metrics.[2]Unilever Acquisition and Retail Shift (1961–present)
In 1961, the Meehan family sold Good Humor of America to the Thomas J. Lipton Company, the United States subsidiary of the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever.[11][2] This acquisition integrated the brand into Unilever's growing portfolio of frozen novelties, though it marked a departure from the entrepreneurial management under previous owners, with operations increasingly directed by corporate executives.[11] Facing intensifying competition from rivals like Mister Softee and rising operational costs for its vending fleet, Good Humor incurred sustained losses in the post-acquisition years.[9] In 1978, the company retired its owned fleet of approximately 1,500 trucks—many sold for as little as $1 each—and pivoted to a retail-oriented distribution model, prioritizing sales through grocery store freezers and partnerships with independent vendors.[3][12] This transition reduced direct vending overheads while expanding access to mass-market channels, enabling broader consumer reach beyond seasonal street sales. The strategic shift contributed to financial recovery, with Good Humor achieving profitability again by 1984.[12] Unilever further bolstered the brand through acquisitions, including Gold Bond Ice Cream in 1989, which added the Popsicle line and consolidated U.S. frozen novelty operations under centralized management.[2] Subsequent mergers, such as with Breyers in the early 1990s, enhanced distribution efficiencies and product variety.[11] As of October 2025, Good Humor remains within Unilever's ice cream division, marketed as part of the global Heartbrand portfolio and available primarily via retail outlets.[5] Unilever announced plans in March 2024 to spin off its €7.9 billion ice cream business—including Good Humor—into a standalone entity named The Magnum Ice Cream Company, with a targeted listing in the fourth quarter of 2025; however, the demerger has been delayed due to the U.S. government shutdown impacting regulatory approvals.[13][14]Products
Current Product Line
Good Humor's current product line focuses on frozen novelties distributed primarily through retail channels such as grocery stores and convenience outlets, rather than traditional street vending, following the brand's shift after Unilever's acquisition in 1961.[15] The offerings emphasize stick bars, cones, and ice cream sandwiches, with an emphasis on classic flavors updated for modern palates, available in multipacks or single servings.[16] These products are produced under Unilever's Heartbrand umbrella, ensuring standardized quality control and wide availability in the United States.[5] The core of the line consists of ice cream stick bars, which include the Creamsicle Bar featuring layers of orange sherbet and creamy vanilla ice cream in a chocolate coating; the Chocolate Éclair Bar with chocolate ice cream center, cake crunch coating, and fudge drizzle; the Strawberry Shortcake Bar combining strawberry ice cream with cake pieces and strawberry-flavored coating; the Cookies & Creme Bar blending vanilla ice cream with cookie pieces in a chocolate coating; the Candy Center Bar with a bubblegum-flavored center surrounded by vanilla ice cream and coating; and the Original Bar, a vanilla ice cream stick coated in chocolate and nuts.[17] [18] These bars typically weigh 3-4 ounces per unit and are sold in packs of 6 or more, prioritizing portable, handheld consumption.[17]| Product Category | Key Examples | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Stick Bars | Creamsicle Bar, Chocolate Éclair Bar, Strawberry Shortcake Bar | Sherbet-ice cream layers, cake crunch, fruit-flavored coatings; 3-4 oz size.[17] |
| Cones | Vanilla and chocolate varieties | Creamy ice cream in crisp sugar cones with sauce toppings.[19] |
| Sandwiches | Giant Vanilla Sandwich | Vanilla light ice cream between chocolate-flavored wafers; larger format for sharing.[20] [21] |