Jerry Greenfield has been at odds with Unilever over his social activism.
Transcript:
There’s a shakeup at Ben & Jerry’s – Ben is officially without Jerry.
Co-founder Jerry Greenfield is stepping down from the ice cream maker after nearly 50 years, citing a clash with parent company Unilever.
In an open letter shared by co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield called the decision “painful,” saying Unilever has silenced the brand on global issues.
Ben & Jerry’s has long been outspoken on social activism – but tensions escalated in 2021 when it announced it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The company’s merger agreement with Unilever back in 2000 was supposed to protect its independence.
Greenfield said: “It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world.” He added: “If I can’t carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forward outside.”
Unilever meanwhile, which is spinning off its ice cream business into a stand alone company called the Magnum Ice Cream Company, said it disagreed with this perspective and added “have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world.”
That’ll do it for your daily briefing. From the New York Stock Exchange, I’m Caroline Woods with TheStreet.
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