They’ll want their sundae greatest.
The founders of ice cream model Ben & Jerry’s are exploring shopping for again their firm from Unilever Plc — because the namesakes declare the company interferes with their lefty politics.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield bought their eponymous ice cream model again in 2000 for $326 million to multinational conglomerate Unilever — which additionally owns competing manufacturers Breyers and Magnum.
Unilever stated the profitable ice cream enterprise just isn’t on the market, in accordance with Bloomberg, however will likely be spun off in a demerger as a part of a cost-cutting drive. The corporate expects the spin-off to turn out to be a publicly traded firm with listings in Amsterdam, London, and New York.
Ben & Jerry’s enterprise may very well be valued at a number of billion {dollars} in gross sales, which might imply Cohen and Greenfield would want to seek out monetary backers in the event that they have been to pursue a purchase order, the outlet reported. The ice cream maker rolled in some $8.72 billion in gross sales in 2024.
The Vermont-born Ben & Jerry’s has lengthy been related to progressive politics and social justice causes — and has navigated a rocky highway with Unilever for the previous a number of years.
Earlier this month, Ben & Jerry’s filed a criticism as a part of the swimsuit claiming the megacorp was making an attempt to dismantle its unbiased board and put a halt to all social activism — which incorporates criticizing President Trump.
The submitting included the allegation that Unilever prevented the Phish Meals mongers from posting on social media about Trump’s inauguration.
Unilever CEO Peter ter Kulve defended the corporate’s motion saying it created a “new dynamic” in an “unprecedented time.”
The Chubby Hubby slingers got here to a head with Unilever again in 2021 when the left-handed scoopers vowed to halt all gross sales within the West Financial institution — a call that was over-ridden by prime brass on the UK-based meals large who proceeded with their sale to an area Israeli licensee.
Ben & Jerry’s filed a lawsuit on the time alleging Unilever was infringing upon the unbiased board of the corporate, which was assured as a part of the unique company sale.
