Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has announced his resignation from the ice cream brand he helped establish in 1978, citing a loss of independence in upholding the company’s values under Unilever ownership. Greenfield’s departure follows the brand’s failure to prevent Unilever from selling its products in West Bank settlements, which he argued contradicted the company’s social mission.
In a statement shared on X by co-founder Ben Cohen, Greenfield expressed that he could no longer “in good conscience” remain an employee of the Vermont-based company after 47 years. He criticized the brand for being “silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power” amid what he described as attacks on civil rights and marginalized communities under the current U.S. administration.
The company, acquired by Unilever in 2000 and now owned by Magnum Ice Cream Company, a Unilever subsidiary, has maintained an independent social mission board despite corporate restructuring. Greenfield and Cohen were not part of this board, which oversees activism but not business operations. A spokesperson for Unilever and Magnum Ice Cream Co. stated the company “disagrees with Greenfield’s perspective” and emphasized efforts to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s values-based approach.
Unilever shares remained stable following the announcement.
