Ben ‘ Jerry’s makes ice cream flavors like Cherry Garcia, Half Baked and Phish Food. But the company also wants to make a difference, its founders say.

Northeastern University students were treated last night when Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben ‘ Jerry’s ice cream, spoke to a crowded Blackman auditorium about how he and partner Ben Cohen established a successful company, while adopting a socially conscious business style.

Their unconventional business model began after they redefined the idea of success for their Vermont-based company, Greenfield said.

“We were thinking about the definition of a business,” he said. “You only get what you measure, and in business what you measure is profitability.”

Following this realization, Greenfield said the pair began to focus more on the spirituality of the business and created their two-part bottom line.

“We measured our success not just by how much money we made, but by how much we were able to give back to the community,” Greenfield said.

Since 1988, Ben ‘ Jerry’s has conducted a social report at the end of the year to determine the success the business has had with its various charitable initiatives.

To achieve success, financially and socially, Greenfield said he and Cohen became determined to find ways to make money and give back to the community.

As an example, Greenfield cited Ben and Jerry’s collaboration with Greyston Bakery, a bakery that employs and assists low-income residents in Yonkers, N.Y.

“They had really good brownies, so we came up with Chocolate Fudge Brownie, which is incredibly delicious and one of the most popular flavors of Ben ‘ Jerry’s,” he said. “Ben ‘ Jerry’s gets this really successful flavor simply by purchasing the brownies from the Greyston Bakery.”

Ben ‘ Jerry’s overall focus on community helps the financial aspects of the business greatly because its customers share the same social concerns, Greenfield said.

“There is a spiritual aspect to business just as there is to human beings,” he said. “It is a unique business proposition.”

Northeastern freshman Ian Burn said he admired Ben ‘ Jerry’s dedication to financial and social responsibility.

“Obviously not all companies can do it, but it is what all companies should strive for,” Burn said.

Northeastern sophomore Eva Barda said she wished more companies were as socially conscious as Ben and Jerry’s.

“Social responsibility should be more of an interest to companies,” she said. “They should pay more attention to social injustice and human rights.”

Northeastern junior Sam Peisner said he is grateful Ben ‘ Jerry’s make social aspects important in the business early on.

“They built their idealism directly into their business plan,” he said.

Attendees received free Ben ‘ Jerry’s ice cream at the event.