The ice cream brand's Founding Partner Alleges Unilever Prevented Pro-Palestinian Frozen Dessert Flavor
The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction of an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
The entrepreneur, that established the business alongside his partner, disclosed how he will independently develop the controversial product as part of an individual collection showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's has been barred from addressing publicly.
Ongoing Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner
The recent development escalates the continuing conflict among the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.
The co-founders have claimed how the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission".
The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol of Solidarity
Mr. Cohen revealed through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-based sorbet, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.
“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”
This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for support for Palestinians because of its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
Historical Activism plus Current Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within the occupied West Bank.
The new dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally created in 2016 to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans
The founder revealed that he will create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.
This development follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.
Previously, Ben Cohen remarked how "Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it."
"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.
- Corporate owner restrictions on social activism
- Personal flavor creation from company founders
- Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
- Continuing disagreements among parent company and ethical values