Cofounder Jerry Greenfield leaves Ben & Jerry’s over political dispute

Core Points - Jerry Greenfield, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's, is resigning due to ongoing political disputes with Unilever, the brand's parent company [1][2] - Greenfield expressed that Unilever has limited the brand's independence to advocate for peace, justice, and human rights, which he believes are core values protected under their merger agreement [2] - Ben & Jerry's is now part of the Magnum Ice Cream Co., which Unilever recently spun off, and is valued at approximately $8.6 billion [3] Company Relations - The relationship between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever has deteriorated since the brand was sold to Unilever in 2000 [2] - Unilever's spokesperson stated that they disagree with Greenfield's perspective and have attempted to engage both cofounders in discussions to strengthen the brand's values-based position [4] - Ben & Jerry's ceased sales in the West Bank in 2021, citing a conflict with the brand's socially conscious values, which led to criticism from Israeli officials [4] Legal Actions - Last year, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit against Unilever, claiming the parent company attempted to prevent the brand from expressing support for Palestinians and a Gaza ceasefire [5] - The lawsuit also alleged that Unilever threatened and subsequently ousted CEO Dave Stever for defending the brand's social mission, which was claimed to breach the terms of their merger agreement [5]