Ben & Jerry's Founding Partner Claims Parent Company Halted Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor
The original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed how parent company Unilever stopped the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, that established the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create this new product as part of a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from speaking out about.
Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner
The recent development intensifies the continuing tension between the internationally recognized ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "maintaining its activist principles".
Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Solidarity
Mr. Cohen revealed through social media that he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”
The watermelon has emerged as an emblem of support for Palestinians due to its coloration, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Previous Activism and Recent Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.
This upcoming product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which was first created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".
Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions
The founder revealed how he plans to create other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that the company was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.
This development follows partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.
Previously, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience compels me to keep working inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill the social mission, the principles which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.
- Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
- Personal flavor creation by company founders
- The fruit-based product as political symbol
- Ongoing disagreements among corporate ownership versus ethical values