Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Claims Unilever Halted Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor
One of the original creators behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced how corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.
Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced how he will independently develop the controversial flavor within an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's has been prevented from speaking out about.
Longstanding Conflict Between Creators and Parent Company
The recent development escalates the ongoing conflict between the internationally recognized dessert company and its corporate parent, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.
Both founders have claimed how the parent company along with its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".
Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Solidarity
The entrepreneur stated via an Instagram video how he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas for naming options and potential ingredients.
“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”
The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.
Previous Social Engagement and Current Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.
This upcoming product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious dessert company that was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Bernie Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions
Mr. Cohen stated how he plans to create other ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.
This development comes after co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been compromised after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.
At that time, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."
"My heart leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the principles that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.
- Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
- Personal flavor creation by company founders
- The fruit-based product as social statement
- Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values