Ben & Jerry’s accused its mother or father Unilever of demanding its silence towards President Trump, because it prepares to spin off the ice cream model later this yr.
In a Thursday night time submitting in Manhattan federal courtroom, Ben & Jerry’s mentioned Unilever ice cream chief Peter ter Kulve earlier within the day unilaterally banned it from “issuing any posts criticizing President Trump” pending additional overview.
Ben & Jerry’s mentioned ter Kulve cited Unilever’s restructuring in defending his actions, saying it created a “new dynamic” in an “unprecedented time.”
Ter Kulve beforehand banned a deliberate publish on hot-button points when Trump was inaugurated on January 20 as a result of the publish talked about Trump, Ben & Jerry’s has mentioned.
Unilever didn’t instantly reply on Friday to requests for remark.
Ben & Jerry’s didn’t instantly reply to an identical request.
Ben & Jerry’s accusations got here in its lawsuit searching for to cease Unilever’s alleged efforts to dismantle its impartial board and finish its social activism.
Many firms have altered social insurance policies, together with on variety, or appeared to indicate deference towards Trump since he started his second White Home time period.
Ben & Jerry’s has had a socially acutely aware mission since being based by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978.
Unilever purchased Ben & Jerry’s in 2000.
They’ve battled publicly since 2021, when Ben & Jerry’s halted gross sales within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution.
Its enterprise there was later offered.
The deliberate spinoff comes as Unilever simplifies its product portfolio, which has dozens of manufacturers together with Dove, Hellmann’s, Knorr, Surf and Vaseline.
Unilever on Thursday selected Amsterdam over London and New York for the main itemizing when it spins off Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Magnum and different ice cream manufacturers as a standalone firm.
Ice cream income totaled 8.3 billion euros ($8.72 billion) in 2024.
The case is Ben & Jerry’s Do-it-yourself Inc v Unilever et al, U.S. District Court docket, Southern District of New York, No. 24-08641.
