The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Alleges Parent Company Blocked Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Product
One of the original creators of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch for a new pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will personally create the controversial flavor within an individual collection highlighting causes the company was prevented from speaking out about.
Ongoing Conflict Involving Founders and Parent Company
This latest development intensifies the ongoing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation which acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.
The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".
The Fruit Sorbet as an Emblem of Support
Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”
The watermelon has become an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
Previous Activism plus Current Changes
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.
This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the product "Bernie's Back".
Management Changes and Future Intentions
The founder indicated how he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.
The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.
At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."
“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to media outlets.
- Parent company limitations on social activism
- Independent flavor creation from company founders
- Watermelon flavor as political symbol
- Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values