-AFP
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s, have publicly urged that their ice cream brand be separated from Unilever’s planned stock market listing of its ice cream division, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, scheduled for November 2025.
In an open letter addressed to Unilever’s board and potential investors, Cohen and Greenfield expressed concern that the company’s founding values, particularly its commitment to social justice, are being compromised under Unilever’s ownership.
Although they no longer hold any financial stake or formal role in the business, the founders claim that Ben & Jerry’s has been “silenced” on critical issues, including global conflicts and social justice, contradicting the mission they established in 1978.
This statement follows a series of legal disputes between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever. In 2024, the ice cream brand filed a lawsuit against its parent company, accusing Unilever of blocking statements supporting Palestinian rights and threatening to dismantle the brand’s board.
Tensions have continued over disagreements on social and political issues, including the sale of products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Despite these conflicts, Unilever has affirmed that Ben & Jerry’s remains a core part of its ice cream portfolio and that it continues to support the brand’s mission.
