Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of firing its CEO, David Stever, over his commitment to the company’s social mission rather than his job performance. According to a complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Unilever fired Stever without following proper procedures, which contravened an agreement made when the two companies merged in 2000.
The complaint claims that Unilever had repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including Stever, to silence their social mission. However, under Stever’s tenure, the company outperformed Unilever’s ice cream portfolio, with sales growing faster than at Magnum, another major ice cream brand.
Ben & Jerry’s has long been known for its outspoken stance on social issues, and this move is seen as a significant escalation in tensions between the two companies. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s stopped selling its ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, leading to criticism from some that it was being too politicized.
Unilever has refused to comment on the allegations, citing confidentiality concerns over an employee career conversation. However, Ben & Jerry’s claims that Unilever has been trying to dismantle the company’s independent board and restrict its ability to take political stances.
The dispute is part of a larger lawsuit filed by Ben & Jerry’s in November against Unilever, accusing it of censorship and threats over the company’s efforts to express support for Palestinian refugees. The case will likely have significant implications for the future of the two companies’ partnership.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/business/ben-and-jerrys-unilever-lawsuit-ceo.html