Silke Mayr Ben & Jerry’s has filed a lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever, alleging that the removal of its CEO, David Stever, is an attempt to suppress the ice cream brand’s activism. The lawsuit, submitted to a U.S. court, accuses Unilever of violating their merger agreement by restricting Ben & Jerry’s “social mission.” This legal battle highlights the ongoing struggle between the ice cream maker’s commitment to social causes and Unilever’s corporate governance.
Legal Dispute Over Social Advocacy
Ben & Jerry’s claims that Unilever has repeatedly pressured its leadership, including Stever, to stop supporting social causes. According to the lawsuit, these actions breach the merger agreement established when Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000. Under that agreement, Ben & Jerry’s retained an independent board to protect its values and social mission.
The ice cream company argues that Unilever’s interference is a violation of this agreement. Unilever has not yet issued a response to the allegations. The legal dispute comes after several disagreements between the two companies, including a demand for Ben & Jerry’s to stop criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ongoing Tensions With Unilever
Ben & Jerry’s was founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield and quickly became known for its activism, supporting social movements such as LGBTQ+ rights and climate action. When Unilever acquired the company in 2000, the agreement allowed Ben & Jerry’s to maintain an independent board to safeguard its social mission.
Tensions between the two companies intensified in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s ceased sales in the West Bank. The disagreement escalated further when the company called for a ceasefire in Gaza and later sued Unilever for blocking its support of Palestinian refugees.
Latest Allegations Against Unilever
In its most recent legal filing, Ben & Jerry’s claims that Unilever removed Stever from his position without consulting the independent board, as required by their agreement. The lawsuit accuses Unilever of trying to force the board to approve Stever’s removal without proper discussion.
David Stever joined Ben & Jerry’s in 1988 as a tour guide and rose through the ranks to become CEO in 2023. His sudden removal is seen by many as part of the ongoing conflict between Ben & Jerry’s commitment to political expression and Unilever’s corporate interests.