Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Leaves Company, Saying Brand's Voice Is Being "Silenced" By Unilever
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has officially left the company after nearly 50 years, saying the brand’s voice has been “silenced” by parent company Unilever. In a letter shared by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield called his decision “one of the hardest and most painful” of his life. He said the company’s ability to speak out on issues like peace and human rights which was protected by a unique merger agreement the founders negotiated with Unilever has now been eroded under Unilever’s control.
Tensions between the Vermont-based ice cream brand and Unilever have escalated since 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop selling in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling it “inconsistent with our values.” The company has since accused Unilever of undermining its independence, most recently by firing CEO David Stever and attempting to block statements on Gaza. Greenfield said, “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence… is gone.”
Ben & Jerry’s has long been known for outspoken activism, from LGBTQ+ rights to racial justice. But Greenfield said the brand had been “sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power,” and that continuing under Unilever would compromise his principles. “I could no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s,” he wrote. Cohen, who was arrested in May for protesting over US military aid to Israel, has also clashed with Unilever and revealed the company rejected a plan to sell Ben & Jerry’s to investors that aligned with their values.
Unilever, who is currently spinning off its ice cream division into a standalone company called The Magnum Ice Cream Company, said it appreciated Greenfield’s contributions but “disagrees with his perspective.” The firm claims it has tried to engage both founders “in a constructive conversation,” but the divide appears deep and likely permanent.
