Ice Cream Giant Ben & Jerry's Facing Uncertainty Following Jerry's Departure - Ice Cream Brand Ben and Jerry's Faces Changes Without Co-Founder Jerry Greenfield
In a surprising turn of events, Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has announced his departure after nearly half a century. The split comes amidst disputes with the parent company, Unilever, over allegations of suppression of political activities.
Greenfield accused Unilever of stifling political activities, a claim that the multinational corporation has denied, stating they have sought a "constructive dialogue" with both founders. The Wall Street Journal has reported on these disputes, shedding light on the ongoing disagreements between Greenfield and Unilever.
Ben Cohen, the other co-founder, remains with the company, although he no longer controls the business. The duo secured the right to stand up for their values when they sold Ben & Jerry's to Unilever in 2000. Over the past 20 years, the brand has advocated for peace, justice, and human rights under Unilever's roof, according to Greenfield.
However, Greenfield believes that the brand has been "silenced" for fear of upsetting the powerful. This sentiment was echoed when he spoke about the firing of Ben & Jerry's CEO David Stever, another recent dispute between him and Unilever.
In a twist, Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, into a separate company. Yet, the company has maintained that Ben & Jerry's is not for sale, despite Cohen and Greenfield's expressed interest in buying back their brand.
The city of Burlington, where Ben & Jerry's was originally founded, is not mentioned in the current disputes. The brand, Ben & Jerry's Homemade, remains under Unilever's ownership.
As of now, there is no information available about the person leading talks with Unilever regarding a possible buyback of Ben & Jerry's Homemade. Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's is losing one of its co-founders, Jerry Greenfield, due to the recent disputes with Unilever. The future of the brand and its commitment to social activism remains uncertain.
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