Ben & Jerry's cofounder leaves business after 47 years, claiming he's been 'silenced' by Unilever

Core Viewpoint - Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, has resigned due to growing tensions with parent company Unilever over its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza [1][4]. Group 1: Company Background - Ben & Jerry's was founded in 1978 by Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen in a renovated gas station and has maintained a socially conscious mission since its acquisition by Unilever in 2000 [8]. - The company has been involved in a legal dispute with Unilever, alleging efforts to silence its political activism, particularly regarding its stance on the Gaza conflict, which it described as "genocide" [6]. Group 2: Leadership and Values - Greenfield expressed that he could no longer work for a company that he believes has been "silenced" by Unilever, emphasizing the importance of pursuing values and social justice [4][6]. - He highlighted that Unilever had previously guaranteed Ben & Jerry's independence to uphold its values when it acquired the company over 20 years ago [2]. Group 3: Current Developments - The resignation of Greenfield marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, which has been escalating since 2021 when the ice cream maker announced it would cease sales in the West Bank [4]. - Unilever's ice cream unit, Magnum, has publicly disagreed with Greenfield's perspective and has sought constructive dialogue with the co-founders to strengthen the brand's values-based position [6].