Co-founder Jerry Greenfield leaves Ben & Jerry's after 47 years due to political disagreement
Ben & Jerry's Co-founder Jerry Greenfield Steps Down, Citing Disagreement with Unilever
In a surprising turn of events, Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has announced his departure from the company after a remarkable 47 years. The decision, Greenfield stated, was prompted by a disagreement with the parent company, Unilever.
Greenfield's departure is not due to a loss of love for the people at Ben & Jerry's but rather a concern for the brand's independence. In a statement published on the official Ben & Jerry's website in 2023, he cited the erosion of the brand's autonomy as "profoundly disappointing."
The request for a spin-off was made last week, but there is no specified date for this event. Unilever, however, has declined the request and denied allegations that it is silencing the co-founders.
Greenfield and his partner, Ben Cohen, sold their company to Unilever 25 years ago with the understanding that they would retain the autonomy to pursue their values. For two decades, they continued to advocate for peace, justice, and human rights. However, Greenfield believes that this autonomy has begun to erode recently.
On Tuesday, the official Instagram account for Ben & Jerry's posted a political meme. The post linked to a blog written in 2023 discussing "why we still don't have common sense gun laws." This blog post, like the Instagram post, is related to gun control policies, reflecting Ben & Jerry's long-standing commitment to social issues.
The statement did not specify what specific values led to the disagreement with Unilever. Unilever, in its response, reiterated that the brand's independence to pursue its values was guaranteed when it bought the company 25 years ago.
The blog post on gun control policies was published on the Ben & Jerry's website in 2023, but the date of the Instagram post is not specified. The statement was made on an unspecified date X, in reference to Ben & Jerry's independence to pursue its values.
Despite the recent developments, it's clear that Greenfield's departure marks a significant moment in the history of Ben & Jerry's. The brand, known for its social activism and innovative flavours, will undoubtedly face challenges as it navigates this transition.
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