Ben & Jerry’s co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, has stepped down from the renowned ice cream company after nearly five decades due to a dispute with its parent corporation, Unilever.
In a statement conveyed through his co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield expressed feeling “muted” by Unilever’s restriction on his social activism. He elaborated that he could not, after 47 years, continue as a part of Ben & Jerry’s in good conscience.
Having established the beloved ice cream brand with Ben Cohen in 1978 in Vermont, USA, Greenfield described his departure as “one of the most challenging and agonizing decisions I’ve ever had to make.”
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 but has encountered disagreements with the founders lately concerning political and social matters. The founders contended that Unilever had assured Ben & Jerry’s autonomy, including an independent board. Tensions escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s opted not to distribute ice cream in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Responding to this decision, Unilever sold the brand in that region to its Israeli licensee. Ben & Jerry’s also alleged that Unilever had pushed the brand to refrain from publicly criticizing Donald Trump.
Greenfield and Cohen recently demanded that the brand be emancipated from its parent company and allowed to be independent once again. However, Unilever clarified that Ben & Jerry’s was not up for sale and would remain part of the conglomerate.
In his resignation letter, Greenfield lamented the loss of independence that was a fundamental aspect of their sale to Unilever, stating, “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.”
He emphasized that Ben & Jerry’s was not just about ice cream but was also a platform to advocate for love, equity, justice, and a better world. Greenfield concluded that his inability to uphold these values at Ben & Jerry’s led to his decision to depart from the company.
Ben & Jerry’s will now be separated from Unilever and integrated into The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is poised for a stock market debut. A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company expressed gratitude to Jerry for his role in founding the iconic brand and wished him success in his future endeavors.
The spokesperson affirmed their commitment to Ben & Jerry’s mission and values, emphasizing their dedication to carrying forward the brand’s legacy of promoting peace, love, and ice cream. They reiterated their support for Ben & Jerry’s as an integral part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and their aspirations for its continued prosperity.