Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Alleges Parent Company Blocked Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Product
One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will personally create the controversial flavor within a personal series showcasing issues the company was prevented from addressing publicly.
Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company
The recent development deepens the ongoing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.
The co-founders have claimed that Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".
The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Solidarity
The entrepreneur revealed via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”
The watermelon has become a symbol for support for Palestinians due to its colors, which mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.
This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans
The founder revealed how he plans to develop other ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.
The announcement follows partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning concerns that its independence was compromised after corporate moves to restrict its social activism.
Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."
"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told media outlets.
- Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
- Personal flavor creation from company founders
- Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
- Ongoing tensions between parent company versus social mission