Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, Jerry Greenfield, steps down due to disagreements with corporate parent Unilever
In a dramatic turn of events, the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's finds itself embroiled in a dispute with its parent company, Unilever. The tensions between the two entities have been simmering since their 2000 merger, but have recently come to a boil.
Ben & Jerry's, renowned for its progressive politics and vocal stance on social issues, has been at odds with Unilever over the company's restrictions on social engagement. The latest development in this saga came in March when Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever, alleging that the parent company fired its CEO in retaliation for the company's activism on social media.
The source of this tension, according to Ann Lipton, a professor at the University of Colorado Law School, lies in the unusual merger agreement between the two companies. The agreement created an independent board responsible for preserving Ben & Jerry's social mission. However, the struggle between the Ben & Jerry's board and Unilever seems to be over the definition of where the line lies between social responsibility and operational aspects.
Unilever's Magnum Ice Cream Co., which includes the Ben & Jerry's brand, has expressed gratitude for the co-founders' service but disagreed with their perspective. Magnum is set to split off from Unilever in mid-November, in what the two entities are calling a 'demerger.' Magnum seeks to engage both co-founders, Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen, in a constructive conversation to strengthen Ben & Jerry's values-based position.
Cohen and Greenfield, however, are advocating for the companies to allow Ben & Jerry's to be free and find a socially-aligned owner. This call to action is part of their 'Free Ben & Jerry's' campaign, which has so far been unsuccessful. Greenfield himself resigned from the company due to the ongoing dispute with Unilever, expressing in a public resignation letter that he felt the parent company was silencing and sidelining Ben & Jerry's.
Cohen described the current situation as a 'marriage that has fallen apart' and stated that it doesn't make sense for the companies to be connected anymore. No institution has yet come forward as a potential buyer for Ben & Jerry's independence after the separation from Unilever in November 2025. Unilever, on the other hand, plans an IPO of its ice cream division, but attempts to sell to investors were rejected.
As the separation date approaches, the future of Ben & Jerry's remains uncertain. One thing is clear, though - the brand's commitment to its social mission and activism remains steadfast, even in the face of adversity.
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