Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has stepped down from the iconic ice cream company he helped build, citing an erosion of the core values that once set the brand apart. The announcement, made public on September 16, 2025, by his longtime collaborator Ben Cohen, has sent ripples through the business world and among devoted fans who have long associated Ben & Jerry’s with progressive activism and social advocacy.
Greenfield’s departure marks the end of a 47-year partnership that began in 1978, when he and Cohen opened their first ice cream stand in Vermont. Over the decades, the duo transformed Ben & Jerry’s into a household name, not just for its inventive flavors but also for its outspoken support of social causes—ranging from climate change protests to LGBTQ+ rights, campaign finance reform, and the dignity of refugees. According to NBC5, Greenfield and Cohen’s activism became as much a part of the brand’s DNA as Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia.
Yet, as Greenfield wrote in his resignation statement—shared by Cohen on social media—he felt compelled to leave because the company’s “core values of spreading love and fighting for equity and justice are no longer possible” under its current ownership. “It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s,” Greenfield said. “This is one of the hardest and most painful decisions I’ve ever made. This isn’t because I’ve lost my love for the people at Ben & Jerry’s. Quite the opposite.”
The crux of Greenfield’s disappointment centers on the loss of independence he and Cohen believed was guaranteed when Ben & Jerry’s was acquired by Unilever in 2000. The merger was unique: it included a provision designed to enshrine the company’s social mission and values in its governance structure, in perpetuity. “That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure and perpetuity,” Greenfield wrote. “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.”
According to ABC News, Greenfield accused the parent company of “silencing” Ben & Jerry’s activism and sidelining the brand for fear of upsetting those in power. He specifically cited the current Trump administration, which he claimed was “attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community.” Greenfield’s statement continued, “Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important. Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power. It’s easy to stand up and speak out when there’s nothing at risk. The real test of values is when times are challenging and you have something to lose.”
The resignation follows a yearslong dispute with Unilever over Ben & Jerry’s public statements on social issues, including the Israel-Hamas war. Earlier this month, Greenfield and Cohen publicly urged Unilever to release them from the conglomerate, according to NBC5. The tension reached a boiling point in March 2025, when Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit against Unilever. The suit accused the parent company of improperly removing CEO David Stever in what the co-founders described as a long-running campaign of censorship over the brand’s support of political causes. The lawsuit remains ongoing, and a representative for Unilever told ABC News at the time that the company had “repeated attempts” to engage Ben & Jerry’s independent board and follow “the correct process.”
The news of Greenfield’s departure has surprised many, including customers at Ben & Jerry’s flagship scoop shop in Burlington, Vermont. “I was surprised,” Cheryl Weber of Waterloo, Iowa, told NBC5. “Why give it up? Everybody has conflicting views about everything, but man, that’s a big choice.”
Despite the public split, Ben & Jerry’s parent companies have responded with a mix of gratitude and disagreement. A spokesperson for the Magnum Ice Cream Company, which oversees Ben & Jerry’s under the Unilever umbrella, told ABC News, “We will be forever grateful to Jerry for his role in co-founding such an amazing ice cream company, turning his passion for delicious ice cream and addressing social causes into a remarkable success story. We thank him for his service and support over many decades and wish him well in his next chapter.” However, the spokesperson added, “We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world. We remain committed to Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission—product, economic and social—and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice cream of this iconic, much-loved brand. Ben & Jerry’s is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and we look forward to further building on its success.”
Unilever’s President of Ice Cream, Peter ter Kulve, also weighed in earlier this month, dismissing rumors of selling Ben & Jerry’s and reiterating the company’s commitment to the brand, according to Reuters. “We remain committed to Ben & Jerry’s unique three-part mission—product, economic and social,” the Magnum spokesperson echoed, “and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice cream.”
For Greenfield, however, the struggle is about more than ice cream. “It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world. Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry’s means I can no longer remain part of Ben & Jerry’s,” he said. “If I can’t carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forward outside, with all the love and conviction I can.”
Greenfield and Cohen’s activism has long been at the forefront of Ben & Jerry’s public image. The pair have participated in numerous protests, including a climate change demonstration outside the White House in 2019, as reported by Axios. Their willingness to align the brand with controversial causes has made Ben & Jerry’s a rarity in the corporate world—a company whose social mission was more than just marketing.
As the lawsuit between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever plays out, and as Greenfield embarks on the next chapter of his life, questions remain about the future of the brand’s activism. Magnum and Unilever insist they will uphold the legacy, but for many, Greenfield’s resignation is a stark reminder of the challenges companies face when ideals collide with the realities of corporate ownership. One thing is certain: the debate over the soul of Ben & Jerry’s is far from over, and the outcome will be watched closely by those who believe business can—and should—be a force for good.
Greenfield’s exit closes a remarkable era, but his conviction to continue fighting for justice outside the company suggests the values he and Cohen championed will endure, even if the venue has changed.
