🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to personally create the controversial product within a personal series showcasing causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Corporate Owner

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor becoming a Symbol of Support

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell their merchandise in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the product "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create other ice cream flavors focusing on issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after many years with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence was compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which established its foundation while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between parent company and ethical values