Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, shocked fans by stepping down from the ice cream giant after nearly five decades. His decision, revealed in a heartfelt letter shared on social media, marks the end of an era for a brand that has always been about more than just frozen treats.
He described his resignation as 'one of the hardest and most painful decisions' he's ever have to make, but why did he do it?
Who is Jerry Greenfield?
Jerry Greenfield, along with childhood friend Ben Cohen, turned a passion for ice cream into a global empire. The pair launched Ben & Jerry’s in 1978, opening their first shop in a converted petrol station in Burlington, Vermont. Their quirky flavours and community-first ethos quickly set them apart.
By 1985, they had established the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, putting activism at the heart of the company.
In 2000, they sold the business to Unilever for $326 million. At the time, the agreement included protections for the brand’s social mission, ensuring it wouldn’t just be swallowed up by a corporate giant. Despite the sale, both Greenfield and Cohen remained involved, sitting on the board to safeguard the company’s values.
Why did Jerry Greenfield quit Ben & Jerry’s?
On 16 September 2025, Greenfield announced his resignation in a heartfelt statement shared by partner Ben Cohen posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he explained: “It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry’s.”
The crux of the issue lay with Unilever, which Greenfield claimed had stripped the brand of its independence to campaign on social causes. He accused the parent company of blocking donations and posts about political issues, including support for student protestors and calls for a ceasefire in Palestine.
“Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important, and yet Ben & Jerry's has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power,” he wrote.
Fallout with Unilever
The tension between the independent Ben & Jerry’s board and Unilever has been bubbling for years. Earlier in 2025, the dispute escalated when the board sued Unilever, claiming it had breached the original acquisition agreement.
Matters worsened when Ben & Jerry’s CEO, David Stever, was fired in March. This was allegedly because he resisted corporate pressure to tone down activism.
Greenfield said the independence enshrined in the merger deal had effectively vanished, writing: “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone."
How Unilever responded
A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, Unilever’s new dedicated ice cream division, pushed back against Jerry Greenfield’s claims, saying: “We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world.”
They added that the company would be 'forever grateful to Jerry for his role in co-founding such an amazing ice cream company.'
Is Ben Cohen still involved with Ben & Jerry’s?
Greenfield’s long-time partner Ben Cohen has not stepped down from Ben & Jerry’s, though he was quick to back his friend. Sharing the resignation letter online, Cohen urged people to support their founding values, writing in the aforementioned post: “His legacy deserves to be true to the values we founded this company on, not silenced by @magnum. Help us #FreeBenandJerrys.”
For now, Jerry Greenfield says he’ll continue fighting for peace, justice and human rights; it will just no longer be from inside the company he helped build.
Featured Image Credit: Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn
Ben Williams