BORDEN’S
THE START OF ELSIE THE COW
The Borden company was founded in 1857 by Gail Borden Jr. Just a year before the company was founded Gail Borden patented the industrial manufacturing process for condensed milk in 1856 that led to the creation of Borden’s ice cream. Throughout the 1920s Borden rapidly acquired dairies and ice cream manufacturers across the United States expanding their product line and consumer reach. The brand's popularity grew even further in 1936 with the introduction of their mascot Elsie the Cow, whose wholesome friendly image appeared on ice cream cartons, store displays, advertisements, and promotional items nationwide.
EXPANDING A DAIRY EMPIRE
In 1940, Borden continued its expansion by opening a franchise location on Johnston Street in Lafayette, Louisiana, which became one of the brand's most beloved ice cream parlors. Borden ice cream parlors allowed families to purchase hand-dipped ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, banana splits, and ice cream sodas made with quality ingredients. During the 1950s and 1960s at home freezers became more common, making packaged Borden Ice Cream a household staple. Borden's popularity remained steady until the 2000s when a large amount of parlors shut down and the company began to focus more on mass production over retail products. In 2020, the Borden Dairy Company filed for bankruptcy, and its remaining smaller assets were sold to New Dairy Opco LLC, marking the end of Borden's long history as an independent dairy company.
