Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Jerry Greenfield Resigns in Protest Against Unilever
An unusual exit for a founder: Jerry Greenfield, co-creator and namesake of Ben & Jerry’s, has left the company in protest. He accuses parent company Unilever of silencing the brand’s political voice, despite a merger agreement meant to safeguard its social mission.
⚖️ Background
- Ben & Jerry’s, founded in Vermont, is known for both its quirky ice cream flavors and outspoken political activism.
- Since being acquired by Unilever (2000), the company has had a special merger agreement guaranteeing independence in social and political matters.
- Greenfield claims this agreement has been undermined, writing in his open letter: he can “no longer in good conscience” work for a company that has been “silenced by Unilever.”
- Partner Ben Cohen shared the letter publicly on X.
🔥 Points of Conflict
- 2021: Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop sales in Israeli-occupied West Bank → sparked legal battles with Unilever.
- The brand called the Gaza conflict “genocide”, a rare move for a U.S. consumer company.
- Cohen revealed last week that they had explored a sale to private investors ($1.5–2.5 billion valuation), but Unilever rejected the idea.
📈 Unilever Strategy
- CEO Fernando Fernandez is restructuring the group, planning to spin off its ice cream division.
- IPO set for mid-November 2025, under the new name Magnum Ice Cream Company.
- The spinoff is part of a wider effort to sharpen Unilever’s portfolio and focus on core brands.
✅ Conclusion
- Greenfield’s resignation underscores the tension between activist branding and corporate governance.
- The conflict could overshadow Unilever’s planned IPO if investor confidence is shaken by unresolved disputes.
- For the market: the Magnum IPO remains a key milestone, but Ben & Jerry’s identity crisis highlights the risks of balancing brand activism with shareholder interests.