The ice cream brand's Co-Founder Alleges Parent Company Blocked Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Flavor
The original creators behind the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company Unilever prevented the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he will personally create the controversial product within an individual series highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.
Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company
This latest announcement escalates the continuing disagreement among the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
Both founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".
Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol for Solidarity
Mr. Cohen revealed via an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding naming options plus additional components.
“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”
The watermelon has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Historical Activism plus Recent Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in territories occupied by Israel, leading to Unilever transferring their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.
The new dessert series is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that was first created several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions
The founder stated how he plans to create other ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by Unilever.
This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.
Previously, Mr. Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for corporate autonomy so that it can actualise the social mission, the values that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.
- Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
- Personal product development from original creators
- Watermelon flavor as political symbol
- Continuing disagreements among corporate ownership and ethical values
