Jerry Greenfield, whose name is synonymous with the beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has officially resigned from the company. His long-time partner and fellow co-founder, Ben Cohen, announced the departure on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, highlighting an escalating conflict with their parent company, Unilever.
In a heartfelt open letter shared by Mr. Cohen on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Greenfield explained his difficult decision. He stated that the Vermont-based company had lost its crucial independence, particularly concerning its social activism, which he feels has been curtailed by the U.K. conglomerate Unilever.
The tension between Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s has been palpable since 2021. This was ignited when the popular ‘Chubby Hubby’ ice cream maker announced its decision to cease sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a move that sparked significant controversy.
Since that initial clash, Ben & Jerry’s has even initiated legal action against its parent company, alleging attempts to suppress its voice. The brand has also taken a rare and strong stance among major U.S. companies by explicitly calling the Gaza conflict a “genocide.”
Mr. Greenfield articulated that he could no longer, “in good conscience,” remain affiliated with a company he felt had been “silenced” by Unilever. He emphasized that this went against the spirit of their unique merger agreement, which was designed to protect the brand’s social mission and independence.
“That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever,” Mr. Greenfield stated in his letter.
A spokesperson for Magnum Ice Cream, another Unilever brand, expressed disagreement with Mr. Greenfield’s viewpoint. They indicated that Unilever has actively sought to engage both co-founders in constructive discussions aimed at reinforcing Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-driven position globally.
Unilever itself did not immediately provide a comment in response to a request from Reuters.
Just last week, Ben Cohen revealed that Ben & Jerry’s had explored the possibility of orchestrating a sale to investors, aiming for a fair market value between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, but this proposal was ultimately rejected amidst the ongoing corporate tensions.