Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Jerry Greenfield Leaves After 47 Years, Cites Lost Independence

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield is departing the ice cream company after 47 years, claiming parent company Unilever has silenced the brand’s social activism. In a letter posted by co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield wrote “that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.” He said Ben & Jerry’s “has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power” during times when “standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important.” Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million and is spinning off its ice cream business into The Magnum Ice Cream Company by 2025. A Magnum spokesperson disagreed with Greenfield’s perspective but thanked him for his service. The companies have clashed over political statements and CEO changes in recent years. (Story URL)