Ice Cream Wars: Nestlé vs. Unilever

Editor's Note: The original version of this story, published Aug. 24, 2007, mistakenly stated that Nestlé acquired Häagen-Dazs. In fact, the Häagen-Dazs brand is owned by General Mills. Nestlé has a license to sell Häagen-Dazs only in North America, while General Mills sells it in the rest of the world, by itself or with partners.

Witness the lines of tourists snaking their way toward the famous Berthillon ice cream counter on the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris, and you know that in the dog days of summer, nothing beats the heat better than a refreshing scoop of ice cream. From rich, super-premium flavors such as Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey, to reduced-fat offerings from Dreyer's, to Berthillon's to-die-for pear sorbet, sellers have blanketed the market with confections to suit every taste and budget.