Ice Cream Manufacturer Ben & Jerry's to Continue Operations Without Co-Founder Jerry
In a recent turn of events, Ben & Jerry's co-founders Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen have shown interest in reacquiring their iconic ice cream brand, as Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, into an independent company.
For over two decades, Greenfield and Cohen have been advocating for peace, justice, and human rights under Unilever's umbrella. However, Greenfield's statement implies that he believes Unilever has been restricting the company's activism under its ownership.
The dispute between Greenfield and Unilever escalated recently, leading to Greenfield's departure from the company. This was preceded by the dismissal of David Stever, the head of Ben & Jerry's, a move that Greenfield found contentious.
Unilever has rejected the accusations made by Greenfield and sought a 'constructive discussion' with both founders. The company emphasized that Ben & Jerry's is not for sale, despite the co-founders' interest in reacquiring the brand.
If the spin-off does proceed, the shareholder community for the new company, tentatively named The Magnum Ice Cream Company, would likely consist of investors in this listed entity. The future involvement of Greenfield and Cohen in the company remains uncertain.
Unilever's plan to spin off Ben & Jerry's ice cream division has raised questions about the future direction of the brand, which has long been associated with social activism and progressive causes. Greenfield has stated that Ben & Jerry's has been 'silenced' due to fear of upsetting the powers that be.
As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how this iconic brand navigates its transition into an independent company and whether Greenfield and Cohen's dreams of reacquiring Ben & Jerry's will come to fruition.
