🔗 Share this article

One of the co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has announced how parent company Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial flavor within an individual collection showcasing causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized ice cream maker with Unilever, the British packaged goods corporation which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted how Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum unlawfully blocked their company from "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video how he is creating an innovative watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for support for the Palestinian people due to its coloration, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement plus Recent Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes and Future Intentions

The founder revealed how he will create other ice cream flavors that address issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's recently, after decades with the organization, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined after Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has a really big heart and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can actualise the social mission, the values which it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations regarding political advocacy
• Personal product development by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership and social mission