Ben & Jerry’s has filed a legal complaint against its parent company, Unilever, accusing it of ousting CEO David Stever to suppress the brand’s social mission.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, claims Unilever removed Stever for his support of the ice cream maker’s political activism, including opposition to Donald Trump and involvement in social issues like Black History Month.
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“Unilever has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including chief executive David Stever, should they fail to comply with Unilever’s efforts to silence the social mission,” the legal filing read.
The conflict highlights ongoing tensions since Ben & Jerry’s decision in 2021 to halt sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, leading to a backlash and subsequent legal disputes.
Ben & Jerry’s alleges Unilever’s actions violate a merger agreement that was meant to preserve the brand’s independence in speaking on social issues.
As part of its organizational restructuring, Unilever plans to spin off Ben & Jerry’s along with other ice cream brands later this year. Unilever has yet to publicly comment on the allegations.
To learn more about Ben & Jerry’s social activism, check out this episode of the PBD Podcast with founding partner Ben Cohen.
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