Ice Cream pioneer Jerry departs from Ben & Jerry's, claiming suppression of its social issue autonomy
Unilever, the multinational consumer goods company, has announced plans to spin off its ice cream business, including the iconic brand Ben & Jerry's, by the end of 2025. This move is part of a larger restructuring initiative by Unilever.
The news comes after a series of conflicts between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. Notably, co-founder Jerry Greenfield left the company in 2025, citing disagreements with Unilever. As of now, there is no information about a new CEO for Ben & Jerry's.
Unilever, known for brands like Dove soap and Hellmann's mayonnaise, acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000 with the intention of helping the ice cream maker expand its social mission. However, tensions have been rising between the two entities for some time.
Ben & Jerry's has alleged that Unilever unlawfully removed its CEO in retaliation for the company's social and political activism. The ice cream maker claims that it has been silenced for fear of upsetting those in power, a sentiment echoed by Greenfield in a letter posted on social media by Ben Cohen.
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop serving Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem, a decision that led to Unilever selling its Israeli business to a local company in 2022. This company later announced it would sell Ben & Jerry's under its Hebrew and Arabic name throughout Israel and the West Bank.
The acrimony continued, with Ben & Jerry's filing a lawsuit against Unilever in federal court in May 2024, accusing it of silencing Ben & Jerry's statements in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war. Unilever, however, maintains that it has been following the agreed-upon process.
Amidst the controversy, Ben & Jerry's is still known for its colourful ice cream containers and unique flavours such as Cherry Garcia and Phish Food. The brand is also making headlines for its new partnership with the Girl Scouts, with the release of a rocky road ice cream flavour as the new Girl Scout cookie.
It remains to be seen how the spin-off will impact Ben & Jerry's and whether the new CEO, once appointed, will address the concerns raised by Greenfield and the company's social activism. The future of Ben & Jerry's, it seems, is set for an interesting turn.
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