Ben & Jerry's's founding member Jerry Greenfield has exited the business after almost 50 years, escalating an ongoing disagreement with parent company the multinational conglomerate.
Through a letter shared on online platforms by co-creator Ben Cohen, Greenfield stated that the company had lost its autonomy after Unilever halted its social activism.
The exit marks the latest development in a dispute that started in recent years when the brand announced it would stop sales in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
An official representative for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is being spun off from Unilever, stated thanks to Greenfield but diverged with his position.
A Painful Decision
In his message, Greenfield characterized departing from the firm as "among the toughest and difficult decisions" he had ever made, adding that he could no longer in good conscience work for a business that had been "silenced" by Unilever.
This was despite an agreement that protected the company's social mission when it merged with the consumer goods giant 25 years ago.
Corporate Response
An official for The Magnum Ice Cream Company stated that the organization had been in dialogue with the two founders before Greenfield's choice to depart.
"We differ with his view and have attempted to involve the two founders in a productive dialogue on how to bolster the brand's powerful principle-driven standing in the world," they said.
Long-Standing Activism
Ben & Jerry's has historically been known for taking a public stance on social issues since its founding in 1978, often backing campaigns on topics like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change.
In recent months, the company stated that its chief executive, David Stever, was being removed by Unilever.
The allegation was included in a lawsuit submitted in a US court by the brand that accused Unilever of violating a contract by trying to silence its "ethical advocacy".
It came after claims that Unilever had instructed the company to stop publicly criticising US President Donald Trump.
A representative remarked that the corporation was "unhappy that the confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been disclosed".
Additional Developments
In May, Mr Cohen was arrested during a demonstration in the American Senate over foreign assistance to the state of Israel and crisis situation in Gaza.
Protesters interrupted the session while a government official Robert Kennedy Jr was testifying.
Mr Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, while a number of other protesters were also arrested and are confronting additional allegations, authorities reported.
