Ben & Jerry’s, the beloved ice cream brand known for its social activism, is once again making headlines. The company recently revealed that its CEO, David Stever, was fired by parent company Unilever for supporting the brand’s social mission, rather than due to any issues with his job performance.
In a court filing, Ben & Jerry’s stated that Unilever had been threatening its personnel, including Stever, for failing to comply with efforts to silence the brand’s social mission. This comes after Unilever announced its plans to remove and replace Stever on March 3, citing his alleged acquiescence to the demands of Ben & Jerry’s independent social mission board.
This latest development is just one in a series of conflicts between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever. Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the company of suppressing social media statements related to issues such as President Donald Trump, abortion, climate change, minimum wages, and healthcare. The brand also claimed it was prohibited from making posts about Black History Month and the protection of the First Amendment.
Ben & Jerry’s argues that Stever’s removal is another attempt by Unilever to stifle the brand’s political views, in violation of an agreement outlining the process for replacing the company’s top executive. The ice cream brand has expressed concerns about Unilever’s plans to spin off Ben & Jerry’s and its other ice cream brands in 2025, questioning how the spinoff will preserve its independent board, social mission, and brand integrity.
Unilever, on the other hand, maintains that the decisions regarding the appointment, compensation, and removal of Ben & Jerry’s CEO were made after consultation with the brand’s independent board. The company expressed disappointment that details of an employee career conversation were made public and hopes that the board will engage in the agreed-upon process.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Ben & Jerry’s remains a popular and influential player in the ice cream market. The brand was the leading ice cream brand in the U.S. in 2023, with sales reaching $951 million. As the company continues to navigate its relationship with Unilever and uphold its social mission, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact its future in the industry.
