Ben & Jerry’s, long perceived as the gold standard of woke corporate culture, might be taking a step back from its progressive stance. The beloved ice cream brand has found itself in a courtroom drama after accusing its parent company, Unilever, of ousting CEO David Stever for standing firm on the company’s liberal principles.
According to a recent filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Unilever, the UK-based juggernaut behind major brands like Marmite and Dove, had allegedly pushed for a muzzle on Ben & Jerry’s political expressions—especially criticisms aimed at former President Donald Trump.
Anuradha Mittal, chair of the ice cream brand’s independent board, praised Stever in a court filing:
“Dave has courageously advanced the company’s social mission and values, has continued to drive innovation in its super premium product range, and has delivered strong financial results, far outpacing the rest of Unilever’s ice-cream business.”
Despite this, Stever’s refusal to dismantle the company’s progressive values is reportedly the reason behind Unilever’s decision to remove him from his position. Unilever has allegedly employed pressure tactics on Ben & Jerry’s leadership, including Stever, in an attempt to stifle their outspoken social mission.
On March 3, 2025, Unilever officially informed the board of their decision to replace Mr. Stever as CEO.
Since its founding in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s has been synonymous with not only delicious ice cream but also leftist activism. The company’s acquisition by Unilever in 2000 came with an agreement to maintain an independent board to safeguard its “progressive values.”
In recent years, Ben & Jerry’s has been vocal about several contentious issues. This includes advocating for defunding the police, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, ceasing sales in Israeli settlements in protest, backing open borders, and calling for aggressive climate action.
The company’s social media and public statements frequently touch on race, gender, and other social justice issues, asserting these stances are integral to their business strategy aimed at “eliminating injustices in our communities.”
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Condemns American Policing System as Racist, Pushes to Defund the Police
