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Something bitter is churning beneath the sweet swirl. Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has officially stepped away from the company he helped build from a tiny Vermont scoop shop into a global name. But this isn’t your typical retirement story. It’s one rooted in values, activism and a brand that may no longer feel like home to the man who shaped it.
After 47 years of standing up for peace, justice and human rights, Greenfield says he can no longer continue under the brand’s current parent company, Unilever. According to his public resignation, Ben & Jerry’s has been “silenced” — its progressive voice quieted in favor of corporate caution.
And that says a lot about where big brands are heading. Or not heading.
From Ice Cream to Impact
Ben & Jerry’s has always been more than an ice cream brand. Whether it was standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, calling for climate justice or speaking out on global conflicts, the company made headlines not only for Cherry Garcia but for bold, unapologetic activism.
When Unilever bought the company in 2000, the deal included a unique clause. Greenfield and his co-founder Ben Cohen were promised independence to maintain the brand’s mission and voice. For a while, that seemed to work. The pints stayed colorful, the statements stayed loud.
But in recent years, Greenfield says that promise has been chipped away.
What Triggered the Exit
In a heartfelt open letter shared by Cohen, Greenfield said leaving was “one of the hardest and most painful decisions” of his life. He pointed to mounting interference from Unilever, especially when it came to public stances on controversial topics.
From abortion rights and immigration to climate change and support for Palestinian refugees, Greenfield claims that Unilever has consistently shut down Ben & Jerry’s voice. In March, the company allegedly removed a post referencing these issues because it included criticism of President Donald Trump. In November last year, they sued Unilever for firing their CEO over his support for political activism.
And in Greenfield’s words, all of this is happening at a time when civil rights, voting rights and human rights are under threat.
So he walked away.
A Brand Caught Between Conscience and Corporate Control
The irony is thick. An ice cream brand that once stood boldly for justice is now being told to play it safe. And for someone like Jerry Greenfield, that simply wasn’t acceptable.
He wrote, “It is profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that the independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.” And he’s not the only one who feels that way. Cohen and Greenfield recently asked Unilever to spin off Ben & Jerry’s entirely, allowing it to operate as an independent voice again.
Unilever, however, has said the brand is not for sale.
Meanwhile, Unilever is spinning off its entire ice cream division into a new business entity and cutting thousands of jobs. That move may make sense from a financial perspective, but it raises new questions about where the brand’s values will land in the corporate shuffle.
When Ice Cream Meant Something
For decades, Ben & Jerry’s proved that a food company could have a soul. It showed us that dessert could be political, that frozen treats could come with moral heat. People didn’t just buy Phish Food for the fudge, they bought it because it stood for something.
Will that legacy survive? Or has the brand’s activist edge been melted into boardroom strategy?
One thing is clear. Greenfield may be leaving the company, but he’s not done fighting for the causes he believes in. He says he’ll continue campaigning outside the brand, with the same heart that turned ice cream into a movement.
What This Means for You (and Your Freezer)
At FoodsWild, we celebrate brands that dare to be bold. But we also know that sometimes the best way to honor a legacy is to bring it home. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the Ben & Jerry’s that once stood for more, why not recreate some of that flavor and freedom in your own kitchen?
Here are a few homemade copycat recipes that let you scoop with purpose:
- Craving comfort with a twist? Make our Copycat Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey Ice Cream Recipe and get lost in bananas, chocolate and crunchy walnut energy
- Feeling rebellious and rich? Try our gooey, chocolate-packed Copycat Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked Ice Cream Recipe, it’s pure unapologetic indulgence
- Want to mix things up? The Copycat Dairy Queen Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard Recipe is messy, nostalgic and loaded with crunchy joy
Because even if the brand evolves, the bold flavors and fun can always live on in your kitchen.
Final Scoop
Jerry Greenfield’s departure is about more than corporate drama. It’s a sign of the tension between values and profit, between brand identity and parent company control. It’s about how far a voice can carry when money takes the mic.
And it reminds us that sometimes, the most meaningful exits are the ones done in the name of integrity.
