The ice cream brand's Founding Partner States Unilever Prevented Palestine-Themed Ice Cream Product
One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company the multinational conglomerate stopped the introduction for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.
Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside his partner, announced how he plans to personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal series highlighting issues the company was prevented from addressing publicly.
Ongoing Dispute Involving Founders versus Parent Company
The recent announcement deepens the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the British consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's 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 Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support
The entrepreneur revealed via social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”
This particular fruit has become a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.
Previous Activism and Current Changes
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution within disputed territories.
The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally established several years back to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Return".
Management Changes and Upcoming Intentions
The founder revealed how he plans to create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.
This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.
At that time, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for its independence so that the company can actualise its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told journalists.
- Parent company restrictions on social activism
- Personal product development from original creators
- The fruit-based product serving as social statement
- Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission