“Greenfield argued that the Vermont-based company has lost its independence since UK parent Unilever (ULVR.L), opens new tab curtailed its social activism, according to the report.”
“Greenfield said he could no longer "in good conscience" continue working for a company that had been "silenced" by Unilever, despite a merger agreement meant to safeguard the brand's social mission, according to a letter by Greenfield to the consumer group cited by FT.
"That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement" that he and co-founder Ben Cohen had negotiated with Unilever, Greenfield wrote.”
Posted by AITACommenter57779
9 Comments
Proving no, nothing is sacred, not even hippie-inspired ice cream speech.
Unilever is still funding pissrael’s genocide in Gaza.
I like the co-founders of Ben & Jerry. But to make bank by selling your company to one of the most insidious conglomerates in the history of our planet and then making this shocked pikachu face is comical.
Lol, they’re also the reason why Breyer’s “dairy desert” can’t legally be called ice cream anymore and has the texture and mouthfeel of shaving cream. They’re the reason Talenti is starting to swirl the same toilet. It’s not if, but when they’ll get away with doing the same to B&Js.
Never forget what they took from us, nor what chemicals they happily feed our children.
Edit: From the makers of Axe Body Spray and Vaseline, comes, “I can’t believe it’s not food!”
His statement is great. Makes me question why Ben isn’t doing the same
His full statement:
To the Ben and Jerry’s Community:
It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben and Jerry’s. I am resigning from the company Ben and I started back in 1978. This is one of the hardest and most painful decisions I’ve ever made.
This isn’t because I’ve lost the love for the people at Ben and Jerry’s. Quite the opposite. The folks who show up every day in our factories, scoop shops and offices are some of the most passionate, caring and values-driven you’ll ever meet. They are the heart and soul of Ben and Jerry’s.
What has made their work so important to me, and what allowed the company to be more than just an ice cream company, was the independence to pursue our values, which was guaranteed when Unilever bought the company. For more than 20 years under their ownership, Ben and Jerry’s stood up and spoke out in support of, peace justice and human rights, not as abstract concepts but in relation to real events happening in our world. That independence existed, in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure in perpetuity. It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis to our sale to Unilever, is gone.
And it’s happening at a time where our country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women and the LGBTQ community. Standing up for our values of Justice, equity and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben and Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power. It’s easy to stand up and speak out when there’s nothing at risk. The real test of values is when times are challenging and when you have something to lose.
Love. Equity. Justice. They’re part of who Ben and I are, and they have always been the true foundation of Ben and Jerry’s. From the very beginning, Ben and I believed that our values and pursuit of justice were more important than the company itself. If the company couldn’t stand up for the things we believed, then it wasn’t worth being a company at all.
It was always more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world. Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben and Jerry’s means I can no longer remain part of Ben and Jerry’s. If I can’t carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forth outside, with all the love and conviction I can.
With love,
Jerry
Welp, hope everyone is prepared for the quality to go to shit in a year.
How the fuck could they do this. They must of been putting pressure on them for continued support of the Palestine people.
Time to start a new ice cream company. Jerry & Ben’s perhaps?