Jerry departs from Ben & Jerry's ice cream company
Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has resigned from the company after almost 50 years. The decision comes following a dispute with the brand's parent company, Unilever, over the suppression of Ben & Jerry's social and political activism.
Greenfield's resignation was triggered by a disagreement over the brand's independence. This dispute escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's ended sales in the occupied Palestinian territories, leading to a backlash from Israel and further tensions between the brand and Unilever.
Unilever has rejected all of Ben & Jerry's claims, stating that the company continues to support the brand's values. However, Greenfield believes that Unilever is curtailing Ben & Jerry's ability to speak out on social and political causes, fearing upsetting those in power.
In January 2022, Greenfield and his fellow co-founder Ben Cohen wrote an open letter to the Magnum Ice Cream Company board, asking for Ben & Jerry's to be spun off to operate independently. The letter cited several disputes over the years, including criticism of President Donald Trump's policies and Israel's war in Gaza, as reasons for the request.
Magnum, a subsidiary of Unilever, thanked Greenfield for his role in co-founding Ben & Jerry's and his dedication to the causes he championed. However, they stated that Ben & Jerry's is a 'proud part' of the Magnum Ice Cream Company and is not for sale.
This is not the first time Ben & Jerry's has clashed with Unilever over its activism. In 2021, the brand filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the parent company of censoring its public statements. In March 2022, Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of breaching its merger agreement by ousting its then-CEO David Stever over the brand's public comments on progressive issues.
Greenfield has served as a brand ambassador for Ben & Jerry's, promoting new flavors and store openings, and making occasional appearances at the company to train staff. He stated that standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important.
As of now, no independent company is currently working to make Ben & Jerry's independent. Greenfield simply publicly criticized Unilever for undermining the brand's autonomy and felt compelled to leave as a result of this ongoing conflict.
The Magnum Ice Cream Company, a subsidiary of Unilever, is being spun off. It remains to be seen how this development will affect the future of Ben & Jerry's and its activism.
