Ben & Jerry’s has accused its parent company, Unilever, of dismissing its CEO, David Stever, for refusing to dismantle the ice-cream brand’s progressive values. According to a court filing, Stever, who led the company for nearly two years, was removed from his position earlier this month. Anuradha Mittal, chair of Ben & Jerry’s independent board, stated that Stever courageously advanced the company’s social mission and values, drove innovation in its product range, and delivered strong financial results.
The dispute highlights tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever, which recently ousted its own CEO, Hein Schumacher, and replaced him with Fernando Fernandez. Last month, Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever of demanding it stop publicly criticizing Donald Trump. In November, the brand launched legal action against Unilever over attempts to block statements supporting Palestinian refugees in the Gaza conflict.
Unilever allegedly breached a confidential settlement agreed upon in 2022 regarding halting sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s, founded in 1978 and acquired by Unilever in 2000, operates under an independent board protecting its mission and social stance. Mittal accused Unilever of attempting to dismantle this agreement, which she claims has driven the brand’s financial success and loyalty among fans.
The court filing revealed that Unilever had threatened Ben & Jerry’s personnel, including Stever, for failing to comply with efforts to silence the social mission. On March 3, 2025, Unilever informed the independent board of Stever’s removal. The latest dispute arises after Unilever announced plans to list its ice-cream business on the Amsterdam stock exchange, separating a division that includes Wall’s, Magnum, and Ben & Jerry’s.
— news from The Guardian
