Ben & Jerry’s has filed another legal complaint against its parent company, Unilever, alleging that it terminated the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s after a disagreement on political matters.
In the recent complaint, filed in a New York federal court, Ben & Jerry’s claims that Unilever has intimidated employees who oppose its attempts to stifle the social mission of the company.
David Stever, who had been with Ben & Jerry’s for 34 years in various roles, including CEO, was allegedly fired not for performance reasons but because he did not adhere to Unilever’s standards of avoiding discussions on political issues.
Unilever then informed the Independent Board that Stever would be replaced as CEO of Ben & Jerry’s on Mar. 3, 2025, which the filing states hindered the CEO’s duties and undermined the company’s Social Mission and Brand Integrity.
Ben & Jerry’s also criticized Unilever for exerting more control over its social mission in an oppressive manner.
Representatives from Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s have not yet responded to requests for comment.
A complex legal web
The ice cream brand and its parent company, Unilever, have had several disputes in recent times. Ben & Jerry’s, founded in 1978 with philanthropy at its core, has maintained progressive viewpoints that diverge from those of its parent company even after Unilever acquired it in 2000. It has taken stances against GMO ingredients and supported causes like Black Lives Matter.
In 2021, tensions arose when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would not sell its products in the Israel-occupied West Bank, leading to criticism against Unilever for allegedly being anti-semitic. Unilever, a FTSE100 company with operations in 190 countries and a turnover of €61 billion in 2024, struggled to reconcile Ben & Jerry’s purposeful social and political stances.
Another conflict arose in 2022 when Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever for planning to sell its Israeli operations to a local licensee, breaching the terms of the 2000 acquisition deal that allowed Ben & Jerry’s to maintain its social mission. The dispute was eventually settled after Unilever sold its Israeli Ben & Jerry’s arm.
In 2024, Ben & Jerry’s filed another lawsuit against Unilever over allegations of censorship related to support for Palestinian refugees during the Gaza conflict. Unilever denied the claims and vowed to defend their case.
Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry’s accused Unilever of stifling the release of a social policy statement mentioning President Donald Trump. The legal battles continue as Ben & Jerry’s founders reportedly consider buying back the brand while Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream business.
