The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Halted Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Product
One of the co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, who established the company with his partner, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new flavor within a personal collection showcasing causes the company has been prevented from addressing publicly.
Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Corporate Owner
This latest announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.
Both founders maintain how Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".
The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support
The entrepreneur announced through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus additional components.
“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”
This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its coloration, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.
The new product line is being created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand which originally established several years back for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".
Management Shifts plus Upcoming Plans
Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create additional ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.
This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company in September, following many years with the organization, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.
Previously, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.
- Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
- Independent product development from company founders
- Watermelon flavor as social statement
- Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values