Jerry Greenfield, co -founder of Ben & Jerry, leaves the Ice Cream brand 47 years later, saying that the independence it had previously had to speak on social issues had been strangled by the mother of Unilever.
In a letter posted by the co -founder Ben Cohen on the social media platform X on behalf of Greenfield, Greenfield said he felt independence that the brand had to talk about social issues and lost events against Unilever.
“For more than 20 years under their ownership, Bin and Jerry stood up and spoke to support peace, justice and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but with regard to the real events that occur in our world,” he wrote. “This independence was not a small part due to the unique integration agreement with which it negotiated with Unilever, which identified our social mission and our values in the company’s governance structure forever. It has ended strongly by reaching the conclusion that this independence is the basis for our sale to Unilever, has been given.”
Greenfield said that the loss of independence was “at a time when the current administration of our country is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of migrants, women and the LGBTQ community.”
He said: “Defending the values of justice and fairness and our common humanity was never more important, yet Ben & Jerry was silent, for fear of disturbing those in power.” “It is easy to stand and speak when there is nothing in danger. The real test of values is when the times are difficult and you have something to lose.”
Greenfield noted that Ben & Jerry, famous for ice cream containers with the names of flavors such as Cherry Garcia and Phish Food, “was always more than just an ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others to struggle for stocks, justice and a better world.”
London -based UNIEVER is rotating ice cream, including Ben & Jerry’s in a free -standing company called The Magnum Ice Cream Company. Greenfield and Cohen were pushing to allow Ben & Jerry to become an independently owned company again, saying in a letter to the Magnum board of directors that they do not believe that the brand should be part of a company that does not support its foundation mission.
A spokesman for Magnum said in a statement on Wednesday that he would be grateful forever for Greenfield for his contributions to Ben and Jerry and thanked him for his service, but he was not compatible with his view.
The spokesman said: “We do not face with his point of view and seek to involve each of the founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s strong position based on values in the world.”
Magnum said he is still committed to the mission of Ben & Jerry and still “focuses on moving forward in the heritage of peace, love and ice cream for this beloved iconic brand.”
Ben & Jerry was at odds with Unilever for a period of time. In March, Ben & Jerry said that the CEO of Unilever was illegally removed in revenge on the social and political activity of the ice cream maker.
In the file of the Federal Court, Ben & Jerry said that Unilever company informed its board of directors on March 3 that it was removing and replacing the CEO of Ben & Jerry David Stefer. Ben & Jerry said that the integration agreement with Unilever, which states that any decisions related to the removal of the CEO must come after consulting with a consulting committee from the Ben & Jerry Board.
In a statement at the time, Unilever said in a statement that Ben & Jerry’s board of directors will participate in the agreed process.
UNILEVER acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $ 326 million. At that time, Ben & Jerry said that the partnership will help the Fairmont’s progressive ice cream company to expand its social mission.
But recently, the marriage was not happy. In 2021, Ben & Jerry announced that it would stop serving the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the disputed East Jerusalem. The following year, Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local company that it said would sell Ben & Jerry under its Hebrew and Arab name throughout Israel and the West Bank.
In March 2024, Unilever announced the isolation of ice cream works – including Ben & Jerry’s – by the end of 2025 as part of a larger restructuring. Unilever also has personal brands such as Dove soap and food brands such as Mayonnaise’s Hello.
But cracks continue. In November, Ben & Jerry filed a lawsuit against Unilever at the federal court in New York, accusing of silencing Ben & Jerry’s statements to support the Palestinians in the Gaza war.
In her complaint, Ben & Jerry said that Unilever also refused to allow the company to issue a publication on social media that has identified issues that are believed to challenge during the term of President Donald Trump, including the minimum wage, comprehensive health care, abortion and climate change.