Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founders Urge Unilever to Let Ice Cream Brand Go Independent

The co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s are calling for the ice cream brand to be independent again. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield sold the company to Unilever in 2000, but in an open letter Tuesday, they urged that the brand be spun off to operate on its own.

The pair cited long-standing disputes with the parent company, saying Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced when trying to speak out on social issues. The brand has a history of taking stands on topics ranging from climate change to racial justice, often sparking both praise and controversy.

Unilever announced last year it would spin off its Magnum Ice Cream Company, which includes Ben & Jerry’s in its portfolio. But despite Cohen and Greenfield’s push, Unilever says Ben & Jerry’s is not for sale.

The letter comes in the wake of a widely criticized logo redesign, which drew negative attention to the brand. Cohen and Greenfield argue independence would allow Ben & Jerry’s to return to its roots of blending bold flavors with outspoken activism.

For now, Unilever is standing firm on keeping the brand under its corporate umbrella.

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