Ben and Jerry's co-founder quits, accusing Unilever of silencing social mission(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
Ben and Jerry's co-founder quits, accusing Unilever of silencing social mission
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/17/ben-jerrys-co-founder-jerry-greenfield-quits-saying-unilever-silenced-social-mission
7 comments
I still get a chuckle regarding their 'stolen land' campaign https://www.newsweek.com/ben-jerrys-icecream-indigenous-comp...
> The Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has stepped away from the ice-cream brand after nearly 50 years, claiming it has lost its independence and accusing its parent company, Unilever, of having “silenced” its social mission.
There is a social mission, and then there is outright political bias. Having a social mission could be climate change, responsible sourcing, charity, etc. But the headline image is a Ben & Jerry's tub with a picture of a political candidate on it.
> Greenfield’s resignation is the latest development in a bitter dispute since Unilever backtracked on an agreement allowing Ben & Jerry’s to not sell ice-cream in occupied Palestinian territories, which had been heavily criticised in Israel.
> Last year, Ben & Jerry’s launched a legal action against Unilever, accusing it of threatening to dismantle the board and sue directors over their public statements in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
At some point you have to ask what ice cream has got to do with Israel and Gaza, no matter where you stand on the issue.
Given the political winds, I think Unilever are acting to protect the brand and their investment, and the co-founders become somewhat increasingly more political.
There is a social mission, and then there is outright political bias. Having a social mission could be climate change, responsible sourcing, charity, etc. But the headline image is a Ben & Jerry's tub with a picture of a political candidate on it.
> Greenfield’s resignation is the latest development in a bitter dispute since Unilever backtracked on an agreement allowing Ben & Jerry’s to not sell ice-cream in occupied Palestinian territories, which had been heavily criticised in Israel.
> Last year, Ben & Jerry’s launched a legal action against Unilever, accusing it of threatening to dismantle the board and sue directors over their public statements in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
At some point you have to ask what ice cream has got to do with Israel and Gaza, no matter where you stand on the issue.
Given the political winds, I think Unilever are acting to protect the brand and their investment, and the co-founders become somewhat increasingly more political.
Sounds like Unilever's communication was half baked, and now Jerry isn't feeling so cherry (garcia) anymore... I hope they work it out before the whole operation turns into phish food.
i find it hard to be sympathetic here. they sold their business to unilever, a multinational consumer goods company, for $326m in 2000 ($613m in today's money).
25 years later, jerry thinks the company has lost its independence? the independence was lost before the ink dried on the sales agreement. unilever never cared about their social mission, period. they've been "dealing" with it since the acquisition.
why not take the sale proceeds and pursue other social missions? btw, phish food is my favorite flavor! <3
25 years later, jerry thinks the company has lost its independence? the independence was lost before the ink dried on the sales agreement. unilever never cared about their social mission, period. they've been "dealing" with it since the acquisition.
why not take the sale proceeds and pursue other social missions? btw, phish food is my favorite flavor! <3
Indeed, this was a big point of comment when it happened. The "natural" ice cream maker sold to the people who make dish soap and Slimfast.
I'm not against selling out, but feigned surprise seems a bit out of place.
I'm not against selling out, but feigned surprise seems a bit out of place.
Unilever turned down an offer to buy back for a cool two billionish, as the article mentions.
I would love to see the legal catfight as a new brand called GFBJ (Genocide-Free Ben and Jerry's) opens for sale across a series of supermarkets coinciding with a boycott of Unilever products.
One can dream.
I would love to see the legal catfight as a new brand called GFBJ (Genocide-Free Ben and Jerry's) opens for sale across a series of supermarkets coinciding with a boycott of Unilever products.
One can dream.
Burt of Burt's Bees on line one...