In a significant development for the beloved ice cream brand, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has officially stepped down from the company. His long-time partner, Ben Cohen, announced Greenfield’s departure on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, highlighting an escalating conflict with the brand’s parent company, Unilever.
Greenfield conveyed his reasons in an open letter addressed to the Ben & Jerry’s community, which was subsequently shared by Cohen on social media platform X. In his statement, Greenfield lamented that the Vermont-based company had, in his view, lost its crucial independence, particularly concerning its social activism, since being acquired by the U.K.-based consumer goods giant, Unilever.
The tension between Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s has been simmering since 2021, when the ice cream manufacturer declared its intention to halt sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a decision that sparked widespread debate and legal challenges.
Since this initial clash, Ben & Jerry’s has taken legal action against Unilever, alleging attempts to suppress its voice. The brand has also publicly labeled the ongoing conflict in Gaza as “genocide,” an exceptionally bold stance for a major American company.
Greenfield emphasized that he could no longer continue in good conscience with a company that he felt had been “silenced” by Unilever. He noted that a key part of their original merger agreement was designed specifically to protect Ben & Jerry’s social mission and independence, a safeguard he believes is no longer being upheld.
In response, a spokesperson for Magnum Ice Cream, another Unilever brand, stated their disagreement with Mr. Greenfield’s perspective. They asserted that Unilever has consistently sought constructive dialogue with both co-founders to reinforce Ben & Jerry’s values-driven position globally.
Unilever has yet to issue an immediate official comment regarding Greenfield’s resignation.
Adding to the narrative, Ben Cohen revealed last week that Ben & Jerry’s had attempted to orchestrate a sale to investors. This proposed transaction, valued between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, was intended to alleviate tensions with Unilever, but it was ultimately rejected by the parent company.