Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Alleges Unilever Blocked Pro-Palestinian Ice Cream Product
One of the original creators of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.
Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor as part of a personal collection showcasing causes the company was barred from speaking out about.
Longstanding Conflict Between Creators versus Corporate Owner
The recent development intensifies the continuing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker with its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
The co-founders maintain that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".
The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Support
Mr. Cohen announced via social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name plus potential ingredients.
“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”
The watermelon has become an emblem for support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
Previous Social Engagement plus Current Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.
The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions
Mr. Cohen indicated that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.
This development comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after decades of involvement, citing worries that its independence had been compromised after corporate moves to curb its social activism.
Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy so that it can fulfill the social mission, the values which it was founded on while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.
- Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
- Personal flavor creation by company founders
- The fruit-based product as social statement
- Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values