by Marion Nestle
Oct
1
2025
Unilever finally clamps down on Ben & Jerry’s
After 20 years, of being owned by Unilever, Ben & Jerry are unhappy about how that relationship is working out. They say they are being silenced and their independence is being infringed upon.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield, part of the duo whose names shaped the popular U.S. ice cream brand over the last half-century, has quit his role as “brand ambassador” after a rift and public feud with parent Unilever (ULVR.L), over the conflict in Gaza.In an open letter shared by his business partner, Ben Cohen on social media, Greenfield said that the Vermont-based company – well-known for its social activism on progressive issues – had in recent years been “silenced” by Unilever, which is currently spinning off its Magnum ice cream unit that includes the Ben & Jerry’s brand.
And according to Dairy Reporter, Greenfield is heartbroken over this: ‘Heartbroken’ Ben & Jerry’s founder steps down over brand’s ‘silencing.’
That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever; one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure in perpetuity. It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence – the very basis of our sale to Unilever – is gone.
Comment
To me, the surprise is not that the partnership between Unilever and Ben & Jerry is fraying over contentious political statements; it’s that the partnership didn’t fall apart years ago.
If you sell your business to a large corporation, you should expect that the corporation’s interests to take precedence.
Corporations are not social service agencies; they are businesses with stockholders to please as their first and most predominant priority.
Unilever apparently kept hands off of B&J (at least visibly) for an astonishing 20 years.
Now that it’s selling off B&J, it wants to get the highest possible price for it.
And if that means making B&J shut up about controversial issues, so be it.
