🔗 Share this article

One of the original creators behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company the multinational conglomerate blocked the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, disclosed that he plans to personally create this new product as part of a personal series showcasing issues the company has been barred from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators versus Corporate Owner

This latest announcement escalates the continuing disagreement between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant that has owned the ice cream brand for over two decades.

Both founders have claimed that the parent company and their ice cream division Magnum improperly prevented their company from "honouring its social mission".

The Fruit Flavor as a Symbol for Support

The entrepreneur announced via social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that advocates for permanent peace for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol of support for Palestinians due to its colors, which mirror those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.

Historical Social Engagement and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company ceased sales of their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thereby permitting continued sales within disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist ice cream brand which originally established in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Shifts and Future Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he will develop additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by corporate restrictions.

The announcement comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after decades of involvement, citing worries that the company's autonomy had been undermined after corporate moves to curb their advocacy work.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation while upholding for decades," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on social activism
• Independent flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between corporate ownership versus ethical values