Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Alleges Parent Company Halted Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Product
One of the original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will independently develop this new flavor within a personal series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.
Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators and Parent Company
The recent development deepens the ongoing conflict among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.
Both founders have claimed how Unilever along with their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "maintaining its activist principles".
The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support
Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”
This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol of support for Palestinians because of its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Historical Social Engagement and Recent Changes
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution in disputed territories.
This upcoming dessert series will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Changes and Future Intentions
Mr. Cohen stated how he plans to create additional ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.
This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.
At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.
- Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
- Personal product development by company founders
- The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
- Ongoing disagreements between parent company and social mission