🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the company alongside his partner, revealed that he plans to personally create this new product within an individual series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement intensifies the ongoing disagreement among the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the British packaged goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have asserted how the parent company and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol of Solidarity

Mr. Cohen announced through social media how he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for naming options and additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which closely resemble those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Historical Activism and Current Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious dessert company which was first established in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen indicated how he will develop other ice cream flavors focusing on issues which the company was prevented from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence had been compromised following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development by company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus social mission