Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Blocked Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor
The co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.
Ben Cohen, that co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he plans to independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.
Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company
The recent announcement deepens the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.
The co-founders have asserted that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".
The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Support
The entrepreneur revealed through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”
This particular fruit has become a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians because of its colors, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Previous Activism plus Recent Developments
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.
This upcoming product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions
Mr. Cohen revealed how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.
The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, after many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence was compromised following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.
At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence so that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.
- Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
- Personal flavor creation from original creators
- Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
- Continuing tensions among parent company versus social mission