Lasting Legacy- Irvine Robbins

I heard that Irvine Robbins died from old age last week at the age of 90 leaving behind him a lasting legacy, otherwise known as the co-foudner of the legendary Baskin-Robbins. Irvine and his partner Burton Baskins created 100s of innovative ice-cream flavors and built a hugely successful ice-cream franchise empire. What remains to this day is Bakin-Robbins have changed the lives of so many Americans since the 1940s…

So how did it all start?

Irvine established his own ice-cream business in the early 1940s after he had served his time in the American army during World War II. He set up his ice-cream store “Snowboard Ice Cream” in Glendale in 1945. He was one of the first entrepreneurs to set up a store selling ice-cream and ice-cream only! His brother-in-law Burton Baskin who married Robbins sister Shirley, and would later become Robbins partner in business, set up his own ice-cream store “Burton’s Ice Cream” in Pasadena.

Following the advice of Robbins father, both men had decided not to go into business together from the beginning, but to operate as seperate ice-cream stores in the hope of evenetually going into partnership together in the future with a stronger idea of the market.

This partnership was created in 1948 under the new business name of “Baskin-Robbins”.

History was made…

Baskin-Robbins had franchised 43 stores by the end of 1949; a 100 more stores by 1960 and 500 stores in total when the ice-cream store was sold to United Fruit Co. for an estimated $12 million dollars in 1967.

Six months later, Baskin died from a sudden heart attack leaving his legacy behind to be continued by Irvine Robbins. Although Baskin-Robbins had sold their business in 1967, Robbins continued to work for the new company for a further 11 years, helping to create and develop 100’s of new flavors of ice-cream…

Most historic flavors:

(a) Baseball Nut- Created for the arrival of the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958;

(b) Lunar Cheesecake- Created after man had landed on the Moon in 1969;

(c) Beatle Nut- Created after the arrival of iconic band The Beatles during the 1960s.

Other flavors that didnt quite make it!

(a) Grape Britain;

(b) Ketchup

(c) Lox & Bagels

What remains to this day and forever more is Baskin-Robbins lasting legacy of innovative ice-cream flavors and ice-cream franchise stores and its ability to spread the enjoyment of ice-cream concept worldwide…

Deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Irvine Robbins…

Franchise Reporter