Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Jerry Quits Amid Unilever Clashes - Corporate Values Melt Under Shareholder Pressure

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield exits parent company Unilever after escalating tensions over corporate values—proving once again that shareholder returns trump social activism in traditional finance.

The Ice Cream Revolution Freezes Over

Greenfield's departure signals the final meltdown between the iconic Vermont brand's progressive ethos and Unilever's global profit mandates. Insiders confirm clashes intensified over brand autonomy and political stances—with corporate bureaucracy ultimately churning out another founder.

Corporate Assimilation Complete

Unilever's 2000 acquisition gradually diluted Ben & Jerry's activist DNA, prioritizing distribution networks and stock performance over social missions. The exit mirrors countless legacy brands consumed by conglomerates—where ethical commitments become marketing bullet points rather than operational guidelines.

Wall Street's Vanilla Victory

Another victory for shareholders craving predictability over principle. Because nothing says 'corporate responsibility' like firing the conscience of your billion-dollar ice cream empire—just in time for Q3 earnings calls.

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In an open letter to the Ben & Jerry’s community, Greenfield expressed disappointment over growing disagreements regarding the company’s social mission, values that were a central part of the merger agreement. His partner, Ben Cohen, shared the letter on social media platform X yesterday, adding a personal note of support.

Why Is Greenfield Stepping Down?

Greenfield accused Unilever of undermining the company’s social activism and independent voice. The rift started in 2021, when Unilever stopped them from selling ice cream in occupied Palestinian territories and has only widened since. Greenfield said he could no longer, “in good conscience,” remain with a company that had been “silenced” despite the merger’s safeguards.

Cohen previously revealed that Ben & Jerry’s had explored selling the unit to investors at a fair market valuation of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion amid escalating tensions with Unilever. However, neither the parent company nor the Magnum ice cream unit has paid any heed to the proposal. Magnum has maintained that the company disagrees with Greenfield’s view but is seeking constructive talks with both co-founders to uphold Ben & Jerry’s strong values-based mission.

Meanwhile, Unilever is preparing to spin off its ice cream businesses, including Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, into a publicly listed company, The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC), in Amsterdam. At the same time, Ben & Jerry’s has sued Unilever over alleged censorship of its political activism and the attempt to oust CEO Stever.

Is Unilever Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?

On TipRanks, UL stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on a single Buy rating received in the past three months. The average Unilever price target based on this rating is $67, which implies 8.3% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, UL stock has gained nearly 12%.