Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of removing its chief executive, David Stever, in an attempt to curb the ice cream brand’s political activism. The claim was made in a legal filing in a US federal court, where Ben & Jerry’s alleges that Unilever has violated their merger agreement by attempting to silence the company’s “social mission”.
The dispute, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, states: “Unilever has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including CEO David Stever, should they fail to comply with Unilever’s efforts to silence the social mission.”
Unilever has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Ben & Jerry’s, founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, has a long history of advocating for social causes, including LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and human rights issues. The company’s legal action follows allegations last month that Unilever attempted to prevent it from publicly criticising former US President Donald Trump.
Relations between the two firms have been strained for years. Tensions escalated in 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s ceased sales in the West Bank, sparking a public rift with Unilever. The conflict intensified as the ice cream brand advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza, leading to a lawsuit in November 2023 alleging that Unilever had tried to block the company’s support for Palestinian refugees.
Stever, who joined Ben & Jerry’s in 1988 as a tour guide and became CEO in 2023, was reportedly dismissed without consultation, a move Ben & Jerry’s claims violates the 2000 merger agreement, which granted the company an independent board to protect its values.
The court filing alleges that “Unilever… attempted to force the independent board into rubberstamping the decision.”
The case highlights an ongoing power struggle between corporate control and brand activism, with Ben & Jerry’s insisting that its commitment to social justice remains integral to its identity. The legal battle is expected to continue as the company challenges Unilever’s authority over its leadership decisions.
