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Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, has resigned from the company he helped build nearly 50 years ago. Greenfield announced his decision on Wednesday (September 17), citing his belief that the independence promised by their parent company, Unilever, has been compromised. Greenfield expressed that he could no longer "in good conscience" work for a company that had been "silenced," particularly regarding its stance on Israel's actions in Gaza.
In an open letter shared by his business partner, Ben Cohen, on social media, Greenfield described his resignation as one of the "hardest and most painful decisions" he has ever made. The tension between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever dates back to 2021 when the ice cream brand decided to stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, stating that it was "inconsistent with our values." This move led to a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the parent company of trying to silence the brand's social mission.
Unilever has rejected these claims, stating that it will defend its position vigorously. A spokesperson from Magnum Ice Cream Company, a subsidiary of Unilever, expressed disagreement with Greenfield's perspective but acknowledged his contributions to Ben & Jerry's. The spokesperson also mentioned efforts to engage both co-founders in discussions to strengthen the brand's values-based position globally.
Ben & Jerry's has been known for its progressive activism, with both Greenfield and Cohen being vocal about their beliefs. Recently, Cohen was arrested for protesting at a United States Senate hearing against Washington's support for Israel's actions in Gaza. The brand had also attempted to sell itself to investors for a fair market value between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, but the proposal was rejected.
As Greenfield steps down, the future of Ben & Jerry's social mission and its relationship with Unilever remains uncertain.