Controversy leads to departure: Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's steps down following disputes with parent company Unilever regarding the Gaza conflict
In a surprising turn of events, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has announced his departure from the company. Greenfield's decision stems from a long-running dispute with Unilever, the parent company that acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000.
Greenfield's resignation comes amidst a conflict that started in 2021, triggered by Ben & Jerry's decision to stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This move was met with resistance from Unilever, leading to a legal battle between the two parties.
Ben & Jerry's has alleged that Unilever has tried to silence them, contradicting a merger agreement intended to safeguard the brand's social mission. Greenfield claims that this agreement has been disregarded, leading to his decision to step down.
The unique merger agreement, negotiated by Greenfield, aimed to protect Ben & Jerry's social values. However, Unilever's ice cream unit, Magnum Ice Cream Company, disagrees with Greenfield's perspective and has sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation to strengthen Ben & Jerry's values-based position.
Despite Unilever's efforts, Greenfield has described the situation as a loss of independence for Ben & Jerry's, citing Unilever's curtailment of its social activism as a primary concern.
Meanwhile, Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is set for a listing in November, has remained silent on the ongoing lawsuit. The new CEO of Magnum Ice Cream Company, Peter ter Kulve, was appointed by Unilever as part of their management restructuring and spin-off of the ice cream division.
Co-founder Ben Cohen has also been involved in the ongoing conflict, demanding to 'free Ben & Jerry's' to protect its social values. However, these demands have been rejected by ter Kulve.
Greenfield, who has been a vocal critic of the Gaza conflict, has described it as 'genocide' in a rare stance for a major US company. Despite this, he has stepped down as a brand ambassador for Ben & Jerry's.
As Ben & Jerry's calls for its own spin-off ahead of Magnum Ice Cream's planned listing in November, the future of the brand remains uncertain. Unilever, for its part, has not commented on the ongoing situation.
