Photo credit: www.investing.com
Ben & Jerry’s Sues Unilever Over Suppression of Support for Palestinian Refugees
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic ice cream brand, has initiated legal action against its parent company, Unilever, claiming that it has suppressed the brand’s expressions of support for Palestinian refugees. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, also alleges that Unilever has threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s board and take legal action against its members regarding these matters.
This legal battle is indicative of the ongoing tensions that have existed between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever, which intensified in 2021. During that year, Ben & Jerry’s announced its intention to cease sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, citing a misalignment with the brand’s core values. This decision led to significant investor backlash, prompting some to divest from Unilever shares.
In response to Unilever’s sale of its Israeli business to a local licensee—an action that allowed continued operations in both Israel and the West Bank—Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit. This earlier case was settled in 2022.
The current lawsuit asserts that Unilever has violated the terms of the confidential settlement agreement from 2022. According to the lawsuit, Unilever is obligated to “respect and acknowledge the Ben & Jerry’s independent board’s primary responsibility over Ben & Jerry’s social mission.”
Ben & Jerry’s contends that it has attempted multiple times to publicly advocate for peace and human rights, including calls for a ceasefire, support for the safe passage of Palestinian refugees to the UK, backing student protests in the U.S. against civilian casualties in Gaza, and a push to halt U.S. military aid to Israel. However, the lawsuit claims that Unilever has obstructed these efforts.
While the independent board of Ben & Jerry’s has voiced opinions on some of these issues, the company felt it was silenced, as outlined in the legal complaint.
According to the lawsuit, Peter ter Kulve, Unilever’s ice cream division head, expressed concerns about public perceptions of anti-Semitism that could arise from Ben & Jerry’s statements regarding Gazan refugees.
Additionally, the settlement from the previous lawsuit mandated that Unilever provide Ben & Jerry’s with $5 million for contributions to human rights organizations of the brand’s choosing. Ben & Jerry’s selected various groups, including the liberal Jewish organization Jewish Voice for Peace and the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
In response, Unilever reportedly expressed objections in August, arguing that Jewish Voice for Peace was overly critical of the Israeli government.
Since its inception in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s has proudly positioned itself as a socially responsible brand. The company has maintained this mission even after being acquired by Unilever in 2000.
Looking ahead, Unilever announced in March that it plans to spin off its ice cream division, including Ben & Jerry’s, by the end of 2025, as part of its strategy to streamline its portfolio. Unilever produces a wide range of products, including Dove soap, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, Knorr bouillon cubes, Surf detergent, and Vaseline petroleum jelly.
Source
www.investing.com