Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder States Unilever Prevented Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor
The original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has claimed how corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative pro-Palestinian frozen dessert product.
The entrepreneur, who established the company with his partner, revealed that he will personally create this new flavor as part of an individual series showcasing issues the company has been prevented from speaking out about.
Longstanding Dispute Between Creators and Corporate Owner
The recent announcement intensifies the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.
The co-founders maintain how Unilever along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "maintaining its activist principles".
Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol for Solidarity
Mr. Cohen stated via social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions for the product's name plus additional components.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”
The watermelon has become a symbol for support for Palestinians due to its colors, that match those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
Historical Social Engagement plus Recent Developments
Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.
This upcoming product line will be developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand that was first established several years back to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".
Management Changes plus Upcoming Intentions
The founder revealed that he plans to develop other frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from addressing publicly by corporate restrictions.
The announcement comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following decades with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.
At that time, Ben Cohen commented how “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."
"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to fight for its independence ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.
- Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
- Personal flavor creation from original creators
- Watermelon flavor as political symbol
- Ongoing disagreements between parent company versus social mission