Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has resigned from the company he helped build nearly five decades ago, accusing its parent company, London-based Unilever, of silencing its longstanding social mission and eroding its independence.
In an open letter shared publicly by co-founder and 47-year business partner Ben Cohen on X, Greenfield described the decision as one of the “most painful” he has ever made, in the ongoing tensions between the brand’s founders and Unilever.
Cohen’s caption to the announcement wrote: “After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together. I’m sharing his words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s. His legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced by MagnumGlobal #FreeBenAndJerrys.”
After 47 years, Jerry has made the difficult decision to step down from the company we built together. I’m sharing his words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s. His legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced by @MagnumGlobal #FreeBenAndJerrys pic.twitter.com/EZXGRjs76a
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) September 17, 2025
Greenfield stated his reason for leaving Ben & Jerry’s was that he felt the company he and Cohen started “lost its independence” since Unilever “silenced, sidelined” the brand’s ability to engage in social activism “for fear of upsetting those in power.”
Greenfield’s resignation comes after a years-long rift with Unilever, which began intensifying in 2021. That year, Ben & Jerry’s independent board announced it would cease sales in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, referring to them as “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The decision sparked backlash in Israel, leading to lawsuits and a settlement in 2022 where Unilever sold the rights to sell Ben & Jerry’s products in those areas to a local licensee, effectively overriding the board’s stance.
This move was seen by the founders as a direct violation of the merger agreement, which included provisions for an independent board to oversee the brand’s social activism.
In April 2025, Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever, alleging the parent company fired its CEO, David Stever, for supporting the brand’s political activism.
Another lawsuit followed in November 2024, accusing Unilever of blocking public statements in support of Palestinian refugees amid the Gaza conflict.
Additionally, in January 2025, Ben & Jerry’s claimed Unilever had barred a social media post referencing issues like abortion, climate change, and universal health care.
Unilever is planning to release a spin-off of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, set to become a standalone entity called the Magnum Ice Cream Company later this year.
Last week, Cohen and Greenfield published an open letter to the board and potential investors, urging that Ben & Jerry’s be “released” from the new company, arguing that Unilever’s actions have devalued the brand by dismantling its social mission.
A spokesperson for the Magnum Ice Cream Company responded to the resignation, expressing gratitude for Greenfield’s contributions but disagreeing with his perspective.
“We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world,” the statement read.
Founded in 1978 in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s quickly became known not just for flavors like Cherry Garcia and Chubby Hubby, but for its commitment to progressive causes, including LGBTQ+ rights, climate action, and racial justice. They no longer hold financial stakes or formal roles beyond ambassadorships of Ben & Jerry’s.
Author: Mario Lotmore
