Ben & Jerry’s announced that its Chief Executive Officer, David Stever, has been removed by its parent company, Unilever, as part of an ongoing dispute over the ice cream brand’s political activism. This move has been met with legal action, with Ben & Jerry’s filing a case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accusing Unilever of breaching a merger agreement and attempting to silence the company’s “social mission.”
The legal action follows a recent allegation by Ben & Jerry’s that Unilever demanded the company cease publicly criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump. Unilever, however, expressed disappointment that details of an internal employee discussion had been made public and emphasized its efforts to follow proper procedures and engage with Ben & Jerry’s board.
According to the court filing, Unilever allegedly threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including Stever, with removal if they failed to comply with the corporation’s attempts to curb the company’s social activism.
Founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry’s has long been known for its commitment to social causes, from LGBTQ+ rights to climate change. Since being acquired by Unilever in 2000, the ice cream maker has operated with an independent board that was established to safeguard its mission and values.
Tensions between the two companies escalated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would halt sales in the West Bank, a decision that sparked further conflict. In the past year, the company has also advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza and expressed support for Palestinian refugees, actions that have intensified the dispute.
Additionally, in a separate legal filing last month, Ben & Jerry’s alleged that Unilever attempted to prevent it from publicly criticizing Trump, further highlighting the ongoing friction over the brand’s political stance.
Stever, who has been with Ben & Jerry’s since 1988 and became CEO in 2023, was reportedly ousted without consultation with the independent board, as required by the original merger agreement. Ben & Jerry’s legal team stated that Unilever pressured the board to accept the decision without following the established process.
In response, Unilever maintained that, in accordance with the terms of the merger, decisions regarding the appointment, compensation, and removal of the CEO are ultimately made by Unilever, after consultation with the Ben & Jerry’s Independent Board. Unilever emphasized its hope that the board would engage in the process as originally outlined in the acquisition agreement.
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