Ben & Jerry’s says its CEO was unlawfully eliminated by its dad or mum firm, Unilever, in retaliation for the ice cream maker’s social and political activism
Ben & Jerry’s says its CEO was unlawfully eliminated by its dad or mum firm, Unilever, in retaliation for the ice cream maker’s social and political activism.
In a federal court docket submitting late Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s stated Unilever knowledgeable its board on March 3 that it was eradicating and changing Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever. Ben & Jerry’s stated that violated its merger settlement with Unilever, which states that any selections concerning a CEO’s elimination should come after a session with an advisory committee from Ben & Jerry’s board.
The Related Press left a message looking for remark with London-based Unilever on Wednesday.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million. On the time, Ben & Jerry’s stated the partnership would assist the progressive Vermont-based ice cream firm increase its social mission.
However currently, the wedding hasn’t been a contented one. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s introduced it might stop serving Israeli settlements within the occupied West Financial institution and contested east Jerusalem. The next yr, Unilever sold its Israeli business to a neighborhood firm that stated it might promote Ben & Jerry’s beneath its Hebrew and Arabic title all through Israel and the West Financial institution.
Final Could, Unilever stated it was planning to spin off its ice cream enterprise — together with Ben & Jerry’s — by the top of 2025 as half of a bigger restructuring. Unilever additionally owns private hygiene manufacturers like Dove cleaning soap and meals manufacturers like Hellmann’s mayonnaise.
However the acrimony continued. In November, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever in federal court docket in New York, accusing it of silencing Ben & Jerry’s statements in help of Palestinians within the Gaza battle.
In its grievance, Ben & Jerry’s stated Unilever additionally refused to let the corporate launch a social media publish that recognized points it believed can be challenged throughout President Donald Trump’s second time period, together with minimal wages, common well being care, abortion and local weather change.
Tuesday’s submitting was an modification to that lawsuit.
