🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the well-known frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the introduction for a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the business with his partner, disclosed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement intensifies the continuing tension between the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

Both founders have asserted how the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand improperly prevented their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur announced through social media how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented in a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that originally established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts plus Future Intentions

The founder indicated how he plans to develop additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how the company's autonomy was undermined after corporate moves to curb its social activism.

At that time, Mr. Cohen remarked that "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions regarding political advocacy
• Personal flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product as political symbol
• Continuing tensions between corporate ownership versus social mission