One of Ben & Jerry’s founders, Jerry Greenfield, has announced he is resigning from the company due to the brand’s social activism being “silenced” by Unilever, the ice cream brand’s parent company. Ben & Jerry’s has advocated for social issues and human rights since its inception in 1978. That independence is being stifled by Unilever out of fear of retaliation from the Trump administration, the founders said.
Jerry Greenfield is leaving the company after 47 years
Ben Cohen shared Greenfield’s announcement on social media on Wednesday and supported his message in his own words.
“I never thought I would have to write this, but after 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to stand down from the company we built together,” Cohen wrote on Instagram. “I am sharing his own words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s. His legacy deserves to be true to the values we founded this company on, not silence” by @magnum.”
Greenfield reiterated his love for the ice cream company, highlighting that his decision was driven by what he sees as a loss of independence from the parent company. Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 under the agreement that it would let the ice cream brand continue advocating for social issues.
“What has made their work so important to me, and what allowed the company to be more than just an ice cream company, was the independence to pursue our values, which was guaranteed when Unilever bought the company,” Greenfield wrote. “That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure in perpetuity. It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.”
Greenfield added that this loss of independence comes at a critical time, as Unilever fears retaliation from the Trump administration if it allows speaking out on social issues.
“It’s happening at a time when our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community,” the founder wrote. “Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power. It’s easy to stand up and speak out when there’s nothing at risk. The real test of values is when times are challenging and you have something to lose.”
Tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever had culminated in recent years
The news of Greenfield’s departure comes as tensions over the issue increased between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever in recent years. In 2024, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever over allegedly trying to dismantle its independent board in an effort to prevent the ice cream brand from calling for a cease-fire over the war in Gaza, according to The New York Times.
Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever of firing its chief executive because he allowed the brand to speak out on political issues.
Greenfield and Cohen have spoken out about a myriad of social and political issues in the past, which have included expressing their support of the Black Lives Matter movement and saying they would end sales in Israeli-occupied territories.
Unilever has reportedly been working to merge Ben & Jerry’s into a new entity named Magnum Ice Cream Company.
“We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world,” a recent Unilever statement said, according to The New York Times.
Last week, Cohen was seen protesting outside of a building in which Magnum Ice Cream Company presented its plans to investors. He shared his presence on social media and wrote: “If Ben & Jerry’s is going to stand up for what matters, we need to be independent.”
