🔗 Share this article

The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has announced that corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the company alongside his partner, disclosed how he will personally create the controversial flavor as part of a personal series showcasing causes the company was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent development deepens the continuing tension between the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant that has owned Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders maintain that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's from "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Flavor becoming an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated via social media how he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based ice cream that advocates for permanent peace in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colors, that closely resemble the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Recent Developments

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell its products in territories under Israeli control, leading to Unilever selling their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

The new product line is being created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the activist dessert company which was first established in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Future Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed that he will create additional frozen dessert varieties that address issues that the company was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.

The announcement follows co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, citing worries regarding how the company's autonomy had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen commented how "Jerry has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that the company can actualise the social mission, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on social activism
• Personal flavor creation from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements between parent company versus social mission