The duo behind Ben & Jerry’s have demanded the brand be ‘released’ from its parent business ahead of a planned market listing.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield have called for it to become independent again.
But The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which is splitting off from conglomerate Unilever, insisted the brand was ‘not for sale’. Magnum will list in Amsterdam in November.
But Cohen and Greenfield wrote to the board saying: ‘We no longer believe Ben & Jerry’s can thrive as part of a conglomerate that fails to support its founding mission.’
Unilever bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 but has long had a tense relationship with the ice cream firm, which is outspoken on social and political issues.
Ben & Jerry’s claimed last year that Unilever had urged the brand to stop public criticism of Donald Trump.
Ice-cool: Eva Longoria for Mangum ice creams which is splitting off from conglomerate Unilever
Cohen and Greenfield said in the letter: ‘We no longer believe Ben & Jerry’s can thrive as part of a conglomerate that fails to support its founding mission, and which is reducing the company’s value by undercutting one of the critical reasons why customers love and support the brand.’
It came as Unilever said it expects sales to grow by between 3 per cent and 5 per cent a year from 2026 at the Magnum-led ice cream spin-off ahead of its planned IPO.
The London-listed consumer group, which also owns Marmite and Dove, will retain a 20 per cent stake but expects to reduce this over time.
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