Ice Cream Entrepreneur Jerry Resigns from Ben and Jerry's Due to Differing Political Beliefs
In a significant development, Jerry Greenfield, one of the co-founders of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, has announced his resignation after a 47-year tenure. The decision comes as a result of a disagreement with the parent company, Unilever.
Last week, Greenfield and his fellow co-founder, Ben Cohen, requested Unilever to spin off Ben & Jerry's, allowing it to operate independently. This move was prompted by concerns about the company's autonomy to uphold its long-standing commitment to peace, justice, and human rights.
Unilever, however, has not agreed to this request. In a statement, the company denied any attempts at silencing the co-founders, a claim that Greenfield has made, citing a recent shift in support for the brand's values, particularly during a time when civil rights, voting rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community are under attack.
Greenfield expressed his concern about the potential silencing and sidelining of Ben & Jerry's due to fear of upsetting those in power. The specific reasons for the disagreement between Greenfield and Unilever are not specified.
The current status of Ben & Jerry's remains under Unilever's control. There is no information available about any potential changes in the management or direction of the company following Greenfield's resignation.
Co-founder Ben Cohen shared Greenfield's resignation statement on Tuesday night, but the paragraph does not mention any intention from Cohen to continue with Ben & Jerry's or if he has made any similar requests to Unilever.
Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen originally had a deal with Unilever that allowed them to keep the autonomy to pursue their values. However, according to Greenfield, this support has recently started to change.
The Unilever manager who rejected Greenfield's departure from Ben & Jerry's is Conny Braams. Unilever has not commented on the allegations of intimidation made by Greenfield.
As the situation unfolds, fans and supporters of Ben & Jerry's are keeping a close eye on developments, hoping for a resolution that will allow the brand to continue its mission of promoting peace, justice, and human rights.
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