Jerry leaves Ben & Jerry's: Feud with parent Unilever over Gaza; co founder steps down 'in good conscience'

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield has stepped down from the ice cream brand, saying he can no longer “in good conscience” remain after 47 years, as the company’s long-running rift with its parent Unilever deepens over its position on Gaza.In an open letter to the Ben & Jerry’s community, shared on X by his partner Ben Cohen on Wednesday, Greenfield said this was “one of the hardest and most painful decisions” he had ever made.“This isn’t because I’ve lost my love for the people at Ben & Jerry’s. Quite the opposite. The folks who show up every day in our factories, scoop shops, and offices are some of the most passionate, caring, and values-driven people you’ll ever meet.

They are the soul of Ben & Jerry’s.”Greenfield explained that what made the brand special was its independence to pursue values such as peace, justice and human rights, a freedom that he argued had been eroded by Unilever.

He added that this independence was guaranteed in the merger agreement when the British consumer goods company bought it in 2000.“It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,” Jerry wrote.

The rift between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever first burst into the open in 2021, when the company announced it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Since then, the ice cream maker has sued its parent over alleged efforts to silence it, and recently described the Gaza conflict as “genocide” a rare stance for a major US company, Reuters reported.In his letter, Greenfield also linked his resignation to wider political currents in the United States.“It's happening at a time when our country's current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community. 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.”He added that the company had always stood for more than ice cream, saying, “It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world.

Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry's means I can no longer remain part of Ben & Jerry's. If I can't carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forward outside, with all the love and conviction I can.

”A spokesperson for Unilever’s ice cream unit, Magnum, said the company “disagrees with Greenfield’s perspective and has sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world.”

The firm further added that Greenfield had resigned as a brand ambassador and was not involved in the lawsuit. Unilever did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Greenfield’s departure comes as Ben & Jerry’s is calling for a spin-off ahead of a planned listing of Magnum Ice Cream in November, after years of clashing with Unilever over its vocal stance on Gaza. Last week, Cohen demanded to “free Ben & Jerry’s” to protect its social mission, a call rejected by new Magnum CEO Peter ter Kulve. Cohen said the brand had attempted to engineer a sale to investors at a fair market value between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, but the proposal was turned down.Ben & Jerry’s was founded by Cohen and Greenfield in a renovated petrol station in Vermont in 1978, and held on to its socially conscious ethos even after the Unilever takeover.