Overview
- Ben Cohen accused Unilever’s ice‑cream arm of preventing an explicitly pro‑Palestine flavor and said he will make a small, non‑commercial watermelon‑based solidarity batch under his Ben’s Best label.
- Cohen said the independent Ben & Jerry’s board had approved the concept about a year ago, but Magnum confirmed it did not proceed with the board’s suggestion this summer.
- A Magnum/Unilever spokesperson said recommendations are considered by Ben & Jerry’s leadership and that management determined it is not the right time to invest in developing the product.
- Cohen launched a “Free Ben & Jerry’s” campaign urging Unilever to sell the brand to socially minded investors, while Unilever says Ben & Jerry’s is not for sale.
- Co‑founder Jerry Greenfield resigned in September saying the company had lost its independence, and Unilever’s planned ice‑cream spin‑off was delayed this week because of the US government shutdown.