Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield is stepping down from the ice cream company after nearly five decades, citing constraints on its ability to advocate for social causes imposed by parent corporation Unilever.
The decision was communicated through a letter shared by co-founder Ben Cohen on social media platform X on behalf of Greenfield. The duo had previously negotiated a unique merger deal with Unilever that safeguarded the company’s social mission and values. Greenfield expressed disappointment in the erosion of the independence that was a cornerstone of their agreement with Unilever.
A legal dispute unfolded in November when Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever in a New York federal court, alleging that Unilever had quashed the company’s statements supporting Palestinians during conflict in Gaza. The lawsuit also highlighted Unilever’s alleged suppression of Ben & Jerry’s social media posts addressing contentious issues expected during the Trump administration, such as minimum wages, healthcare, abortion, and climate change.
In response to Greenfield’s departure, Magnum Ice Cream, a subsidiary of Unilever, expressed gratitude for his contributions to Ben & Jerry’s while disagreeing with his viewpoints. The company stated its commitment to upholding Ben & Jerry’s values and ethos of promoting peace, love, and ice cream.
Cohen and Greenfield, childhood friends who founded the company in Vermont in 1978, established a reputation for championing progressive causes and supporting charitable initiatives. Despite the evolution of their product lineup over the years, including famous flavors like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and those named after public figures such as Jerry Garcia and Sen. Bernie Sanders, Ben & Jerry’s remained steadfast in its dedication to social activism.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, aiming to expand the brand’s social impact. However, tensions arose as Greenfield voiced concerns in a 2020 interview about Unilever’s initial lack of appreciation for Ben & Jerry’s mission. The company later underwent a revitalization, aligning with movements like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter.
Conflicts intensified in subsequent years, with Ben & Jerry’s announcing a cessation of operations in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Unilever’s divestment of its Israeli business and plans to spin off its ice cream division, including Ben & Jerry’s, further strained the relationship.
The ongoing disputes culminated in Ben & Jerry’s alleging that Unilever unlawfully removed its CEO in retaliation for the company’s activism. Greenfield emphasized the critical importance of upholding values in challenging times, lamenting Ben & Jerry’s perceived sidelining and silencing in the face of societal injustices.