Ben & Jerry’s Files Lawsuit Against Unilever Over Blocked ‘Pro-Palestine’ Initiative

Ben & Jerry’s has filed a lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever, accusing it of blocking the brand’s efforts to express support for Palestinians in Gaza. The lawsuit, filed in the United States, alleges that Unilever has threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s independent board and pursue legal action against its members over their social activism.

Tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever date back to 2021, when the ice cream company announced it would halt sales in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, stating the move aligned with its values. This decision sparked backlash from some investors who subsequently divested from Unilever in protest.

In a 2022 settlement, Unilever agreed to uphold Ben & Jerry’s board’s independence regarding social initiatives. The new lawsuit claims that Unilever violated this agreement by allegedly silencing Ben & Jerry’s on “four occasions” when it attempted to publicly support “peace and human rights.” The suit seeks to reaffirm the independence of Ben & Jerry’s board over its social mission.

This is not the first legal conflict between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever. Last year, Ben & Jerry’s sued after Unilever sold the brand’s Israeli business to a local licensee, allowing its products to continue being sold in Israel and the disputed territories. That case was settled, but it highlighted the ideological divide between Ben & Jerry’s social activism and Unilever’s global business strategy.

Founded in 1978 by Jewish entrepreneurs Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry’s is known for its political engagement. The brand has publicly supported causes such as Palestinian nationalism, abortion rights, immigration reform, gun control, and climate action.

Unilever has not commented on the latest lawsuit, and it remains to be seen how the court will address this ongoing dispute between corporate governance and brand independence.

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