The ice cream brand's Co-Founder States Parent Company Halted Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Product

Ice cream activism illustration
Activist Entrepreneurs promoting political issues via frozen treats

The original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who established the business alongside his partner, revealed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of an individual series showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Conflict Involving Creators versus Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing conflict between the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "maintaining its activist principles".

Watermelon Flavor becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through an Instagram video how he's developing an innovative watermelon-based sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm accomplishing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder commented from a cooking set. “I'm creating a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for support for the Palestinian people due to its colors, that mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas occupied by Israel, leading to the parent company selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company that originally created in 2016 to support ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Management Changes plus Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he will create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns that the company was prevented from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry's in September, after decades of involvement, mentioning worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

"My heart leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he told media outlets.

  • Parent company restrictions regarding social activism
  • Independent product development from original creators
  • Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
  • Ongoing tensions between corporate ownership versus ethical values
Richard Reyes
Richard Reyes

A fashion journalist with over a decade of experience covering urban trends and sustainable streetwear, based in Berlin.