The brand celebrated with .80-cent scoops and a birthday party in its hometown of Glendale, California
It’s 1945 in Glendale, California. With World War II finally at an end, millions of U.S. troops are returning home – including two veterans about to make ice cream history: Burton “Burt” Baskin and Irvine “Irv” Robbins, the founders of Baskin-Robbins.
Fast-forward eight decades, and Baskin-Robbins remains true to its founding philosophy of 31 flavors, encouraging guests to escape the ordinary with flavors for everyone, for every day, for every occasion.
As Baskin-Robbins turns 80 in 2025, we’re dipping back into the brand’s story and savoring every scoop along the way.
1940s: WWII Roots
The great minds behind Baskin-Robbins – brothers-in-law Irv and Burt – originally entered the ice cream business separately. Irv, who grew up working at his father’s ice cream shop, opened ‘Snowbird Ice Cream’ in 1945 after leaving the U.S. Army and moving to sunny California. Likewise, Burt founded ‘Burton Ice Cream Shop’ in California in 1946 after serving in the U.S. Navy, where he’d gained a reputation for making ice cream from local fruit for his fellow troops.
“There was really no such thing anyplace as a pure ice cream store,” said Irv to the Los Angeles Times. “I just had the crazy idea that somebody ought to open a store that sold ice cream, and nothing but ice cream, and do it in an outstanding way.”
By 1948, Burt and Irv had six shops between them, and they worked together to grow their ice cream venture. After collectively opening more than 40 locations in Southern California, Irv and Burt bought their first dairy to oversee all flavor ingredients and ice cream production, ensuring their founding standards of excellence could keep up with demand.
1950s: Introducing Baskin-Robbins
In 1953, Burt and Irv agreed to combine their 60 individual shops under a shared business. After a coin flip to establish the order of their names (which Burt won), they founded Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream in Glendale, California. The “31” stood for the 31 flavors available on scoop in any location, allowing guests to enjoy a different flavor every day of the month.
By 1959, Baskin-Robbins boasted 150 flavors and opened its first store outside of California in Phoenix, Arizona.
It was also in the late 1950s that Baskin-Robbins introduced the pink spoon, encouraging guests to “ask for a taste spoon” to easily try new flavors at no extra cost.
1960s: An American Brand
As Baskin-Robbins continued to expand, more than 500 locations were scooping ice cream across the U.S. by the late 1960s. Meanwhile, Burt and Irv were the brains behind every new flavor, from the Beatlemania-inspired Beatle Nut to the historic Lunar Cheesecake, celebrating the first man on the moon. By 1967, Baskin-Robbins boasted 300 different flavor recipes.
Part of Baskin-Robbins’ rapid growth was thanks to its franchise model, which invited ice cream shop managers to invest in ownership. Managers became entrepreneurs, creating a hands-on, small business approach with franchisees who supported their local communities. Baskin-Robbins continues to grow with franchisees to this day.
1970: Baskin-Robbins Goes International
Baskin-Robbins became a global brand in the 70s, expanding with locations in Canada (1971), Japan (1973), Belgium (1974), and the United Arab Emirates (1979).
More than 30 years after their own military service, Burt and Irv were proud to serve active-duty service members on military bases, beginning in 1977. Today, Baskin-Robbins operates multiple long-standing military base locations with AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Services) to provide American ice cream to U.S. service members and their families.
Fun fact: former U.S. president Barack Obama had a summer job scooping ice cream at his local Baskin-Robbins in 1978.
1980s: Forever 31
After three decades, Baskin-Robbins gave its logo a refresh. With a focus on keeping the original colors and “31,” Baskin-Robbins rolled out a minimalist logo that removed “ice cream.” Overseas, the brand expanded to serve guests in Saudi Arabia (1982), South Korea (1985), and Australia (1989).
Fun fact: you may recognize this logo from our collaboration with Stranger Things in 2019, which invited guests to step back into 1985 at their local Baskin-Robbins.
1990s: Smiles in Every Sip
In 1991, Baskin-Robbins changed up its logo once again, replacing the chocolate brown with a frozen blue that put a pink “31” in the middle of the logo. Three years later, the Baskin-Robbins Cappuccino Blast rolled out nationwide, blending ice cream with coffee for a new frozen treat. Now affectionately known as the Cappy, this menu item is available in a variety of delicious and festive flavors.
Also introduced in the 90s was the Polar Pizza. Designed for sharing, the Polar Pizza relaunched nationwide in 2016, allowing guests their choice of a chocolate chip cookie or double fudge brownie crust, favorite ice cream flavor, and customized toppings.
2000: Breaking Records
The 2000s brought many moments of celebration for Baskin-Robbins. In 2004, Mitch Cohen – one of the first Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins Multi-Unit operators – scooped 19 cones in one minute, setting a new Guinness World Record. In 2005, the brand hit a new milestone with more than 1,000 ice cream flavors offered around the world.
In 2006, the Dunkin’ Donut & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation was founded to address critical hunger. Today, it has evolved into the Joy in Childhood Foundation, a nonprofit that has donated more than $70 million to hundreds of national and local charities to bring support and smiles to children who are battling hunger and illness.
The Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation includes the Pint-Sized Heroes program, recognizing children who are receiving care at hospitals and inspiring joy in their communities by providing grants to their local community in their honor.
To meet the new millennium and celebrate 60 years of ice cream, Baskin-Robbins launched the playful blue “BR Baskin Robbins” logo in 2006, complete with a hidden pink “31” that makes up the “BR.”
In 2008, the brand made history with its now-iconic Turkey Ice Cream Cake. Outfitted with sugar cone drumsticks, a caramel praline glaze, and a golden finish that looks straight out of the oven, the Turkey Cake is an annual holiday tradition that’s as fun to serve as it is to eat.
2010: Baskin-Robbins Goes Digital
To bring more ice cream to the masses, Baskin-Robbins launched its mobile app in 2016 for iOS and Android, giving guests more ways to pay, receive special offers, and access upcoming events and promotions. Today, it’s known as the “BR App,” home to the Baskin-Robbins Rewards program launched in 2024 with order-ahead options and in-app rewards.
Baskin-Robbins introduced non-dairy flavors in 2019, adding Non-Dairy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Non-Dairy Chocolate Extreme to the dipping cabinet. Today, the non-dairy menu has expanded to include additional flavors, sorbets, smoothies, and more.
2020: Pink and Brown Return
In the fall of 2020, Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ made headlines as they joined the Inspire family of brands. “Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins are category leaders. Together, they are two of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world,” said Paul Brown, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Brands. “By joining Inspire, these brands add complementary guest experiences and occasions to our current portfolio.”
In 2021, the brand made headlines with a new favorite flavor: Beach Day, a salted vanilla-flavored ice cream swimming with milk chocolate-flavored caramel-filled sea turtles, frosting flecks, and swirls of graham cracker sand. The beloved flavor made a comeback in 2024 in the “Beach Day Baddies” campaign, launching a merch line to celebrate its return as Flavor of the Month.
In 2022, Baskin-Robbins went back to its roots with a new logo that incorporates the original pink and brown color scheme.
The following year, the brand introduced two flavors that raised the bar on ice cream innovation: Chick’n & Waffles and Turkey Day Fixin’s. Chick’n & Waffles, a deconstructed brunch classic, features crispy chick’n and waffle-flavored bites drizzled in a bourbon maple syrup-flavored swirl. Likewise, the Turkey Day Fixin’s combines everything to love about favorite holiday sides with sweet potato and autumn spice ice creams, mixed with honey cornbread pieces and swirls of Ocean Spray® cranberry sauce.
2025: Celebrating 80 Years
Today, Baskin-Robbins is the leading ice cream specialty shop brand in the world with more than 7,800 restaurants scooping up 1,400 different flavors in 36 global markets – including specialty products like Cake in a Box, a new lineup of layered ice cream cakes in a resealable box that’s designed for convenience and easy sharing.
To celebrate eight decades, franchisees Sharis and Edwin Amirian hosted a birthday bash on Friday, December 5, in the brand’s founding town of Glendale, California at the Baskin-Robbins at 1217 North Central Avenue. Baskin-Robbins leadership welcomed guests with .80-cent scoops, prizes, giveaways, and more.
“When Burt and Irv started Baskin-Robbins, they had one mission: flavors for everyone, for every day, for every occasion. In this way, they weren’t just ice cream makers – they were innovators,” says Baskin-Robbins Brand Head Jerid Grandinetti. “As we continue building on their original promise of 31 flavors, we’re humbled to carry on their legacy.”
