"Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of the beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, announced this week that he's resigned from the company he helped create in the late 1970s over an ongoing dispute with its parent company, Unilever. The Vermont-based ice cream maker, with its zany packaging and inventive flavors, has long been known for its progressive politics and the company routinely speaks out on social issues."
"In a public resignation letter posted online Tuesday, Greenfield said Ben & Jerry's "has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power" by Unilever, the multinational corporation that bought Ben & Jerry's in 2000. "And it's happening at a time when our country's current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community," Greenfield wrote."
""It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world," he added. A long clash over independence For years, Greenfield and his co-founder, Ben Cohen, have clashed with Unilever over the ice cream company's independence and its ability to take public positions on political and social issues, from the war in Gaza to climate change."
Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's over an ongoing dispute with parent company Unilever, alleging the company was being silenced for fear of upsetting those in power. He warned the silencing occurs amid attacks on civil rights, voting rights, immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community. The founders long clashed with Unilever about the brand's independence and its ability to take public positions on issues ranging from Gaza to climate change. The 2000 merger established an independent board to protect the social mission. Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever in March alleging retaliatory firing of its CEO; Unilever expressed disagreement and gratitude.
Read at www.npr.org
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