Ben & Jerry's co-founder 'heartbroken' as he quits saying he's been 'silenced'
In a letter shared on X, Jerry Greenfield claimed he has been 'silenced' after Unilever stopped his social activism
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the ice cream firm after almost 50 years following a row with its parent company Unilever.
In a letter shared on X by his co-founder Ben Cohen, Mr Greenfield claimed he has been ”silenced” after Unilever stopped his social activism. He said he couldn't “in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s”.
Mr Greenfield founded the popular ice cream company with Ben Cohen in 1978 in Vermont, US. Mr Greenfield continued by saying that quitting is “one of the hardest and most painful decisions I’ve ever made”.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 but the company has been locked in disagreements with its founders in recent years over political and social issues.
The founders have argued that Unilever had guaranteed Ben & Jerry’s autonomy, including an independent board. The row started in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s decided not to sell ice cream in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Unilever responded by selling the brand in the region to its Israeli licensee. Ben & Jerry’s also claimed last year that Unilever had urged the brand to stop public criticism of Donald Trump.
Mr Cohen and Mr Greenfield last week demanded that the brand was “released” from its ice cream parent business and allowed to become independent again. Magnum stressed at the time that Ben & Jerry’s was “not for sale” and will remain part of the group.
In his resignation letter, Mr Greenfield said: “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.”
He added: “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.
“Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry’s means I can no longer remain part of Ben & Jerry’s.”
Ben & Jerry’s is being split out from Unilever as part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is being lined up for a stock market float.
A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company said:“We will be forever grateful to Jerry for his role in co-founding such an amazing ice cream company, turning his passion for delicious ice cream and addressing social causes into a remarkable success story.
”We thank him for his service and support over many decades and wish him well in his next chapter. We disagree with his perspective and 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.
”We remain committed to Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission – product, economic and social – and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice cream of this iconic, much-loved brand.
” Ben & Jerry’s is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and we look forward to further building on its success.”
