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From two ice cream shops in southern California, a pair of brothers-in-law built an international franchise

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The Baskin-Robbins company was founded by two brothers-in-law - Burton “Burt” Baskin and Irvine “Irv” Robbins - who both started peddling ice cream in the mid-1940s. Pictured: Irvine Robbins helping Baskin-Robbins celebrate 31 years of selling ice cream in February, 1976. Source: Baskin Robbins.Tony Korody

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At first, Baskin and Robbins operated separate ice cream stores. Robbins opened his first store, Snowbird Ice Cream, in Glendale, Calif. in 1945. Baskin opened Burton’s Ice Cream Shop, also located in California, a year later. Pictured: Baskin-Robbins ice cream store on Bloor Street near Spadina Avenue in Toronto.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail

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By 1949, the two brothers-in-law had more than 40 stores between them in Southern California. Pictured: The Baskin-Robbins ice cream store at the Vaughan Mills shopping centre.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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In 1953, Snowbird Ice Cream and Burton’s Ice Cream Shop dropped their separate identities and became Baskin-Robbins. On the advice of an ad agency, the company decided the “31” in its original logo would represent one flavour for every day of the month.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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Baskin-Robbins is now headquartered in Canton, Mass., and is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. family of companies. On July 18, the company announced it would close an ice cream plant in Peterborough, Ont.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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