Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quits over social activism row

Peter HoskinsBusiness reporterGetty ImagesJerry Greenfield at an occasion encouraging individuals to vote – Ben & Jerry’s has lengthy been recognized for social and political activismBen & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has left the ice cream maker after virtually half a century on the agency, deepening a dispute with guardian firm Unilever.In a letter shared on social media by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen, Mr Greenfield stated the Cherry Garcia maker had misplaced its independence after Unilever put a halt to its social activism.His exit marks the newest episode in a row that began in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s stated it will cease promoting its ice cream in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem.A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Firm, which is being spun off from Unilever, stated it was grateful to Mr Greenfield however disagreed together with his stance.Ben & Jerry’s has lengthy been recognized for taking a public stance on social points because it was based in 1978, usually backing campaigns on points like LGBTQ+ rights and local weather change.In his letter Mr Greenfield stated leaving the agency was “one of many hardest and most painful selections” he had ever made however he may not “in good conscience” work for a enterprise that had been “silenced” by Unilever.This was regardless of an settlement that protected the model’s social mission when it merged with the buyer items big 25 years in the past, he stated.A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Firm stated the agency had been in dialogue with the 2 founders earlier than Mr Greenfield’s choice to go away.”We disagree together with his perspective and have sought to interact each co-founders in a constructive dialog on strengthen Ben & Jerry’s highly effective values-based place on the earth,” they stated.Commenting on Mr Greenfield’s announcement, Anna Macdonald, funding companion at Aubrey Investments, stated Ben and Jerry’s had “constructed a model all about irreverence and activism and advocacy” and that Unilever had agreed to “proceed these missions” when it purchased the enterprise in 2000.However lately, she stated, Unilever might have tried to rein within the firm’s activism, notably with regard to Israel and Gaza.In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s introduced it will cease promoting its ice cream in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem.Earlier this 12 months, the corporate accused Unilever of demanding that it stops publicly criticising US President Donald Trump.Ms Macdonald stated Mr Greenfield “has moved on as a result of he would not need to be related to what’s occurring now”.In March this 12 months, Ben & Jerry’s stated its chief government, David Stever, was being eliminated by Unilever.The allegation was a part of a authorized case filed in a US courtroom by Ben & Jerry’s that stated Unilever violated a merger settlement by making an attempt to silence its “social mission”.A Unilever spokesperson stated it was “dissatisfied that the confidentiality of an worker profession dialog has been made public”.In Could, Mr Cohen was arrested throughout a protest within the US Senate over navy support to Israel and humanitarian circumstances in Gaza.Protesters disrupted the listening to whereas Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr was testifying.Mr Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, whereas one other six demonstrators have been additionally arrested and face quite a few extra critical costs, US Capitol Police advised BBC Information.