In a surprising move today, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s, has resigned. He claims that the company has lost its ability to act freely on social causes because of its parent company, Unilever. This comes after nearly 47 years with the brand.
In his statement, Greenfield explained that he could no longer “in good conscience” stay with Ben & Jerry’s. He believes the independence they once negotiated when Unilever acquired the company in 2000 has eroded.
At the center of this dispute is Ben & Jerry’s independence, not just independence of ownership, but independence of voice. Greenfield says that without this, the brand cannot stand for what it was created to represent.
The co-founder emphasized that the social mission and values justice, equity, and speaking out on human rights were once protected under the merger agreement. Now, he feels those promises are being sidelined.
The conflict includes past decisions where Ben & Jerry’s took strong stands on global and political issues. Greenfield says such positions were central to the company’s voice, but corporate control has limited their freedom to act.
Cohen has supported Greenfield’s decision, and he has also tried to negotiate a return of control to the founders. He believes Ben & Jerry’s needs full independence in order to protect its identity as more than just an ice cream brand.
For decades, Ben & Jerry’s has been more than ice cream. It became a symbol of social justice, climate action, and human rights. Losing that voice, Greenfield argues, risks losing the brand’s very identity.
