The ice cream brand's Co-Founder States Unilever Halted Palestine-Themed Frozen Dessert Flavor
The original creators of the well-known ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated that corporate owner the multinational conglomerate prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.
Ben Cohen, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will personally create this new flavor as part of an individual collection highlighting causes the company has been prevented from speaking out about.
Ongoing Dispute Involving Creators versus Parent Company
This latest development intensifies the continuing conflict among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the UK-based consumer goods giant which acquired the ice cream brand for over two decades.
The co-founders have claimed how Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".
The Fruit Flavor as an Emblem of Support
The entrepreneur announced via an Instagram video that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored sorbet, requesting consumer ideas regarding the product's name and potential ingredients.
“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”
The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that match those of Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.
Previous Activism and Recent Developments
Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in the occupied West Bank.
The new product line will be created through Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand that was first created in 2016 to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".
Leadership Shifts plus Upcoming Intentions
Mr. Cohen stated that he will create other frozen dessert varieties that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.
The announcement follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield resigned from Ben & Jerry's recently, following many years with the organization, citing concerns that its independence had been undermined following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.
At that time, Ben Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."
“My conscience leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that the company can fulfill the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.
- Parent company restrictions regarding political advocacy
- Personal flavor creation by company founders
- The fruit-based product serving as social statement
- Continuing disagreements among parent company versus social mission