Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s, has stepped down from the renowned ice cream company after nearly five decades due to a dispute with its parent company, Unilever.
Greenfield expressed in a letter shared by his fellow co-founder, Ben Cohen, that he felt “silenced” by Unilever’s actions that hindered his social activism. He stated that he could no longer continue working for Ben & Jerry’s after 47 years, as it conflicted with his principles.
The ice cream company was established by Greenfield and Cohen in 1978 in Vermont, USA. Greenfield described his resignation as a challenging and emotionally difficult decision.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, but tensions have arisen between the founders and the parent company in recent years over political and social matters. The founders contended that Unilever had promised Ben & Jerry’s independence, including a separate board. The conflict escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s chose not to distribute ice cream in territories occupied by Israel.
In response, Unilever sold the brand’s distribution rights in the region to an Israeli licensee. Ben & Jerry’s also alleged that Unilever had pressured the brand to cease criticizing Donald Trump publicly.
Recently, Cohen and Greenfield demanded the brand’s independence from Unilever, advocating for it to return to operating autonomously. Unilever firmly stated that Ben & Jerry’s was not up for sale and would remain within the company.
In his resignation letter, Greenfield lamented the loss of independence that was a foundation of the sale to Unilever, stating it was disappointing to realize that autonomy was no longer feasible within Ben & Jerry’s.
He emphasized that Ben & Jerry’s was more than just an ice cream company; it was a platform to promote love and engage in the fight for equality, justice, and a better world. Greenfield concluded that he could no longer be associated with Ben & Jerry’s under these circumstances.
Ben & Jerry’s is set to transition out of Unilever and become part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is preparing for a stock market debut.
A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company expressed gratitude to Greenfield for his pivotal role in founding the successful ice cream brand. They acknowledged his contributions and diverging perspectives, aiming to engage both co-founders in constructive discussions to uphold Ben & Jerry’s values in the global arena.
The commitment to Ben & Jerry’s three-fold mission – product, economic, and social – remains steadfast, focusing on preserving the brand’s legacy of peace, love, and ice cream. The spokesperson affirmed the brand’s integral role within The Magnum Ice Cream Company and the dedication to advancing its prosperity.
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