Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quits over social activism dispute with Unilever

One of the founding fathers of Ben and Jerry’s, Jerry Greenfield announced Tuesday that he will no longer be a part of the company he started from scratch in 1978 with Ben Cohen. The reason being, as per Business Insider reports, is his inability to see eye to eye with parent company Unilever on the political and social stances of the brand.

After 47 years at Ben and Jerry’s, Greenfield, in his departing statements, said it broke his heart leaving the company and was one of the hardest decisions of his life.

Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s conflict

Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million. The sale included a clause allowing the brand to speak out on social and political causes. That independence was tested in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s said it would stop selling ice cream in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, leading to a legal fight with Unilever.


Greenfield said it was deeply disappointing that the brand’s independence, which was part of the original agreement, is gone. He also said that Ben & Jerry’s was always about more than ice cream; it was about spreading love and fighting for equity, justice, and a better world, according to the report by Business Insider.

Greenfield leaves Ben & Jerry’s

Unilever, which owns Ben & Jerry’s and other ice cream brands like Magnum, thanked Greenfield for his decades of service and said they wish him well. A Unilever spokesperson said they disagreed with Greenfield’s view and had tried to engage both co-founders to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s values-based position.

Unilever added that it is committed to Ben & Jerry’s “three-part mission” of product, economic, and social goals and wants to carry forward the brand’s legacy of peace, love, and ice cream.

Greenfield said that since advocating for social causes is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry’s, he could not continue working there. Unilever is planning to spin off its ice cream business from the rest of the company. The story is still developing and may have more updates in the future, as stated by Business Insider.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Jerry Greenfield leaving Ben & Jerry’s?
Jerry Greenfield is leaving because he feels Unilever has stopped the brand from speaking out on social and political issues.

Q2. Who owns Ben & Jerry’s now?
Ben & Jerry’s is owned by Unilever, which bought the ice cream brand in 2000 for $326 million.