The lawsuit is the latest sign of the long-simmering tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and consumer products maker Unilever.
In its new lawsuit, Ben & Jerry’s says that Unilever has breached the terms of the 2022 settlement, which has remained confidential.
As part of the agreement, however, Unilever is required to “respect and acknowledge the Ben & Jerry’s independent board’s primary responsibility over Ben & Jerry’s social mission,” according to the lawsuit.
Ben & Jerry’s has positioned itself as socially conscious since Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded the company in a renovated gas station in 1978.
In March, Unilever said it will spin off its ice cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry’s, by the end of 2025 to simplify its holdings.
Persons:
Jerry’s, “ Ben, Ben, Peter ter Kulve, Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, Knorr bouillon
Organizations:
Reuters, Unilever, Ben, West Bank, “ Unilever, U.S, Jewish, Peace, San, Islamic
Locations:
Israel, Britain, Gaza, San Francisco Bay