On Wednesday, Greenfield claimed the independence that Unilever promised the brand had “gone”.
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“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. For more than 20 years under their ownership, Ben & Jerry’s stood up and spoke out in support of peace, justice and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world,” he said.
“It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,” Greenfield said.
“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,” he said.
Cohen shared Greenfield’s statement on X, saying Greenfield’s “legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced”.
A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which contains Unilever’s ice-cream brands including Ben & Jerry’s, said, “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.
“We remain committed to Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission – product, economic and social – and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice-cream of this iconic, much-loved brand,” the spokesperson said.
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