Ben & Jerry’s cofounder resigns citing lack of independence below Unilever

In an open letter addressing the Ben & Jerry neighborhood that was shared by Mr. Cohen on social media platform X, Mr. Greenfield mentioned that the Vermont-based firm has misplaced its independence since U.Ok. mum or dad Unilever curtailed its social activism.

Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s have clashed since 2021, when the Chubby Hubby maker mentioned it will cease gross sales within the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The model has since sued its mum or dad over alleged efforts to silence it and described the Gaza battle as “genocide,” a uncommon stance for a serious U.S. firm.

Mr. Greenfield mentioned he may now not “in good conscience” proceed working for a corporation that had been “silenced” by Unilever, regardless of a merger settlement meant to safeguard the model’s social mission.

“That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever,” he wrote within the letter.

A Magnum Ice Cream firm spokesperson mentioned that it disagrees with Mr. Greenfield’s perspective and has sought to have interaction each cofounders in a constructive dialog on easy methods to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s highly effective values-based place on the planet.

Unilever didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.

Last week Ben Cohen mentioned the model had tried to engineer a sale to buyers at a good market worth between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion amid tensions with Unilever however the proposal was rejected.