Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has stepped away from the famous ice cream brand he helped establish in 1978, following a disagreement with Unilever. This surprising announcement came via a post from co-founder Ben Cohen on X, which included a screenshot of Greenfield’s heartfelt statement. He mentioned that this decision was “one of the hardest and most painful” he has ever faced, citing Unilever’s obstruction of the brand’s efforts to engage publicly with social and political issues integral to its identity.
In his statement, Greenfield expressed, “With a broken heart, I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s.”
Cohen shared Greenfield’s sentiments, highlighting that this decision relates to their long-standing values and the continuing struggle against corporate silencing, especially from Unilever, the parent company since their sale of the brand in 2000. Initially, there was an understanding to maintain their independence regarding their values, but things have changed over the years.
Tensions escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in the West Bank, a move that led to backlash and a dispute over their independence and messaging. This ultimately culminated in a lawsuit against Unilever in 2024, with claims of censorship regarding public statements made about Gaza.
Greenfield’s statement criticized the current administration on various issues, emphasizing how the brand has been “silenced” out of fear of upsetting powerful entities. Additionally, they alleged that Unilever had barred a social media post about abortion because it referenced former President Donald Trump, suggesting a breach of their original agreement.
Unilever, through its subsidiary Magnum, claimed it had attempted to engage with Greenfield and Cohen constructively, but acknowledged disagreements in perspective. A spokesperson mentioned their desire to enhance the values-based positioning of Ben & Jerry’s.
Concluding his statement, Greenfield remarked that their mission goes beyond ice cream; it was about spreading love and advocating for equity and justice. He expressed that if he couldn’t uphold these values within the company anymore, he would continue to advocate for them externally.
