Ben & Jerry’s is set to be spun off from Unilever. Here’s how the company’s founding duo built an ice cream empire from an old gas station.

• Unilever said Tuesday that it will spin off its ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's.
• It's the latest change for Ben & Jerry's, which was founded by two childhood friends from Long Island.
• Here's the story of Ben & Jerry's, from a gas station in Vermont to global distribution.

Consumer goods giant Unilever seems ready to unload its ice cream business. That includes Ben & Jerry's, a brand known for its creatively named flavors – and for taking sides politically.