the development of new ingredients and flavors." In 1953, they decided to unite Snowbird and Burton's under one name: Baskin-Robbins, deciding the order of their names with a coin toss. The "31 flavors" concept was introduced that same year to bring attention to a deep menu that featured a flavor for every day of the month. The company had 43 stores by the end of 1949, more than 100 by 1960 and about 500 when the ice cream empire was sold to United Fruit Company for an estimated $12 million in 1967. Robbins stayed involved with the company for 11 more years and retired in 1978. Twenty-five years later, Baskin-Robbins had become the world's largest chain of ice cream stores, with 5,500 outlets around the world. Personal life Burt and Irv first met in 1941 when Burt began dating Irv's sister, Shirley Robbins, whom he married in Tacoma, Washington, in 1942. He served as a Lieutenant Commander of Naval Reserve in the South Pacific during World War II. Burt and Shirley had two children: Edie and Richard Baskin. Baskin died from a heart attack at his home in Studio City, California, on December 24, 1967, a week after his 54th birthday. He was interred at Home of Peace Cemetery. References External links Baskin-Robbins website 1913 births 1967 deaths American food company founders United States Navy personnel of World War II American people of Russian-Jewish descent Fast-food chain founders People from Glendale, California Businesspeople from San Diego People from Streator, Illinois United States Navy officers University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni 20th-century American businesspeople People from Studio City, Los Angeles Burials at Home of Peace Cemetery Baskin-Robbins family Military personnel from California Military personnel from Illinois