Sightful Invest
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Stock
Top Posts
Comey to be arraigned in federal court after...
Comey pleads not guilty in court after indictment...
Houthi rebels test US ceasefire with deadly strike...
Kushner joins Witkoff for Gaza ceasefire talks as...
Cuomo rips Mamdani’s freebie ‘fantasy,’ says AOC proved...
White House escalates shutdown consequences as Democrats show...
Moderate Dem undercuts Jeffries on ObamaCare compromise as...
MIKE DAVIS: The Supreme Court betrayed again —...
Senate Democrats defy White House warnings, again block...
Greta Thunberg slammed for using image of starved...
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Stock

Sightful Invest

Business

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns, claiming parent company Unilever ‘silenced’ its campaigning

by admin September 18, 2025
September 18, 2025
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns, claiming parent company Unilever ‘silenced’ its campaigning

Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand, has stepped down from the company he started 47 years ago citing a retreat from its campaigning spirit under parent company Unilever.

Greenfield wrote in an open letter late Tuesday night — shared on X by his co-founder Ben Cohen — that he could no longer ‘in good conscience’ remain an employee of the company and said the company had been ‘silenced.’

He said the company’s values and campaigning work on ‘peace, justice, and human rights’ allowed it to be ‘more than just an ice cream company’ and said the independence to pursue this was guaranteed when Anglo-Dutch packaged food giant Unilever bought the brand in 2000 for $326 million.

Cohen’s statement didn’t mention Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, but Ben & Jerry’s has been outspoken on the treatment of Palestinians for years and in 2021 withdrew sales from Israeli settlements in what it called ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory.’

Greenfield’s resignation comes five months after Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit accusing Unilever of firing its chief executive, David Stever, over his support for the brand’s political activism. In November last year Ben & Jerry’s filed another lawsuit accusing Unilever of silencing its public statements in support of Palestinian refugees.

‘It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,’ Greenfield said.

‘And 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,’ he added.

Jerry Greenfield, left, and Bennett Cohen, the founders of Ben and Jerry’s founders, in Burlington, Vt., in 1987.Toby Talbot / AP file

Richard Goldstein, the then president of Unilever Foods North America, said in a statement after the sale in 2000 that Unilever was ‘in an ideal position to bring the Ben & Jerry’s brand, values and socially responsible message to consumers worldwide.’

But now Greenfield claims Ben & Jerry’s ‘has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.’ He said he would carry on campaigning on social justice issues outside the company.

The financial performance of the Ben & Jerry’s brand isn’t made public but Unilever’s ice cream division made 8.3 billion Euros ($9.8 billion) in revenue in 2024. Unilever is in the process of spinning off its ice cream division, however, into a separate entity which involves cutting some 7,500 jobs across its brands globally.

Cohen and Greenfield founded the business in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, where it is still based.

NBC News has contacted Unilever for comment overnight but had not received any at the time of publication.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

previous post
Trump and first lady to get King Charles royal treatment at Windsor Castle
next post
Environmental Approval for Boland Infield Studies & Update on Scaled Column ISR Test

You may also like

Starbucks union votes to authorize strike ahead of...

December 19, 2024

Trump transfers all his DJT shares to his...

December 21, 2024

Mortgage rates see biggest one-day drop in over...

September 6, 2025

Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO...

July 29, 2025

Kroger and Albertsons are spending billions to reward...

December 15, 2024

Treasury delays deadline for small businesses to file...

December 28, 2024

Grocery stores are rationing eggs as supply falls...

February 15, 2025

Sports bar chain Twin Peaks is going public....

February 1, 2025

WNBA files trademark application to bring back ‘Detroit...

February 2, 2025

Intel CEO retires as chipmaker loses ground in...

December 3, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Comey to be arraigned in federal court after being indicted for alleged false statements, obstruction
  • Comey pleads not guilty in court after indictment on alleged false statements, obstruction
  • Houthi rebels test US ceasefire with deadly strike on cargo ship
  • Kushner joins Witkoff for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump pushes peace plan: ‘Cautiously optimistic’
  • Cuomo rips Mamdani’s freebie ‘fantasy,’ says AOC proved socialism fails after killing NYC Amazon deal

    Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest insights, updates, and exclusive content straight to your inbox! Whether it's industry news, expert advice, or inspiring stories, we bring you valuable information that you won't find anywhere else. Stay connected with us!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Categories

    • Business (936)
    • Investing (3,147)
    • Politics (3,845)
    • Stock (4)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: sightfulinvest.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 Sightful Invest. All Rights Reserved.