🔗 Share this article

The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that parent company the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who established the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will personally create this new product as part of an individual collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Conflict Between Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development deepens the continuing conflict between the world-famous ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, requesting consumer ideas for naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as a symbol for support for the Palestinian people because of its coloration, that mirror the colors in the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in territories occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first established in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades of involvement, citing worries regarding how its independence had been undermined following Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

At that time, Mr. Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values which it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Continuing disagreements between parent company versus social mission