Latest news with #BenAndJerrys
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unilever names Jochanan Senf as new Ben & Jerry's CEO
Unilever has appointed Jochanan Senf as the CEO of Ben Jerry's following the exit of former Dave Stever as the head of the subsidiary in March. According to Ben & Jerry's independent board, Stever was ousted earlier this year for defending the company's social activism on issues like immigration, Black Lives Matter and pro-Palestinian protests. In March, Ben & Jerry's filed a case in New York accusing Unilever of removing Stever without the approval of the subsidiary's own board. The move, Ben & Jerry's contested, violated an agreement meant to protect its independence and social activism. Under the terms of its acquisition of Ben & Jerry's in 2000, Unilever agreed to retain an independent board of directors at the Vermont-based business who were focused on maintaining the brand's social mission. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Ben & Jerry's board was not given the chance to interview candidates to succeed Stever. Just Food has asked Unilever to comment. Disagreements between the businesses originated in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it was halting sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, causing a backlash in Israel which threatened a boycott of Unilever products. In June 2022, Unilever sold its ice cream operation in the country in an attempt to draw a line under a damaging diplomatic row. Last November, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit saying Unilever had tried to stop it from expressing support for Palestinian refugees. Unilever denied the claims. In February, in another court filing, Ben & Jerry's said its owner had tried to ban it from publicly criticising US President Donald Trump. Unilever is planning to spin off its ice-cream business later this year with the new company to be listed in Amsterdam, London and New York. In a statement from Unilever, the FMCG giant described Senf as an 'ice cream veteran' adding his career has been 'deeply entwined with Ben & Jerry's'. According to Senf's LinkedIn profile, he spent seven years at Ben & Jerry's as MD for its business in Europe. Senf has spent more than 20 years at Unilever included the role at Ben & Jerry's. Since 2022, he has been the general manager for Unilever's food business in the DACH markets. The statement said: 'This experience allowed him to learn first-hand the importance and power of Ben & Jerry's unique three-part mission – product, economic and social – and how this is instrumental to the success of the business and its impact on communities. In 2024, Unilever's ice-cream business generated a turnover of €8.3bn ($9.7bn), up 4.5% on a year earlier. The demerged business will be called The Magnum Ice Cream Company and based in the Netherlands. "Unilever names Jochanan Senf as new Ben & Jerry's CEO" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Wall Street Journal
10-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Unilever Picks New Ben & Jerry's CEO, Escalating Dispute with Independent Board
Unilever ULVR 1.87%increase; green up pointing triangle has appointed a new CEO for Ben & Jerry's, continuing a dispute with the ice-cream brand's independent board. Jochanan Senf, a longtime Unilever executive who previously served as managing director of Ben & Jerry's Europe business, will start in the new role this month.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unilever cuts off funding for Ben & Jerry's foundation amid tensions over Gaza, audit
Unilever is cutting off millions in funding for Ben & Jerry's charitable foundation after it refused to provide audit documents, escalating what has become a microcosm for corporate 'woke' wars. Peter ter Kulve, who runs Unilever's ice cream business, told Ben & Jerry's executives in an email that the foundation's trustees 'have continued to resist basic oversight' and are not cooperating with requests from corporate auditors ahead of the ice cream business' spinoff from Unilever. The probe into the foundation began in part because of its giving to pro-Palestinian organizations, Semafor reported earlier this year. 'It represents a marked departure from the norms of charitable organizations, for whom transparency is typically a bedrock operating principle,' ter Kulve wrote in the email, which was seen by Semafor. The Ben & Jerry's foundation distributed more than $5 million of Unilever's money in 2022, to mostly progressive organizations, and has done so ever since the quirky, left-leaning Vermont creamery was acquired by the corporate giant in 2000. Since then, Ben & Jerry's politics have been a headache for its parent, and the tensions between the two have grown more acute as the business community got swept into the culture wars — first pulled to the left in the mid-2010s, then retreating rightward under the second Trump administration. Ter Kulve wrote that management of the soon-to-be standalone ice cream company had met with foundation trustees and 'consistently sought to accommodate concerns' they raised, including switching audit firms and promising to keep certain information about grantees private. 'The Foundation is a powerful force for good and has played a meaningful role in advancing the Ben & Jerry's social mission,' ter Kulve told executives. 'We remain committed to that mission.' Representatives for Unilever and Ben & Jerry's did not respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for the foundation's trustees didn't immediately comment. Unilever decided to spin off its ice cream business last year. The audit of Ben and Jerry's foundation was part of that process. But it has devolved into a turf war between Unilever and the foundation, whose trustees claim their parent company is using the transaction as a pretense to attack its charitable giving. The troubles date back to at least 2021, when Ben & Jerry's said it would stop selling its products in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. Unilever sold the regional Ben & Jerry's license in response. Ben & Jerry's independent directors sued Unilever in November, accusing their parent company of silencing the ice cream maker's statements in support of Palestinian refugees. Other court documents allege that Unilever muzzled Ben & Jerry's social media posts that mentioned President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Nelson Peltz, the billionaire investor and Unilever director who introduced the president to Musk. Activist Robbie Starbuck told Semafor earlier this year he was planning a lobbying group to pressure corporate America to drop DEI targets, to prevent 'a situation where we have totally parallel economies,' with blue brands and red brands, because it's 'going to hurt our economy.'
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Summer Scoop-tacular: National Ice Cream Month Starts Now!
Ben & Jerry's Declares July a Scoop-tacular Celebration with New Scoop Shop Exclusives BURLINGTON, Vt., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst a nationwide scorching heat wave, July 1st is not just another blistering summer day —it's the kick-off to the sweetest month of the year: National Ice Cream Month! To celebrate, the flavor gurus at Ben & Jerry's are turning up the chill with brand-new Scoop Shop exclusives joining the existing powerhouse line up, Limited Batch surprises, and new ways to share your favorite ooey-gooey, swirly-whirly chunks. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: 🎉 New Scoop Shop ExclusivesEscape the heat by heading to your nearest Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop to try our three new exclusive flavors: UltraViolet – Bright, beautiful, and gluten-free Non-Dairy Mochaccino Chip – Bold, creamy, and caffeine-kissed Non-Dairy Strawberry Swirl – Sweet, swirly, dairy-free deliciousness "Whether you're on a mission to find a new Scoop Shop exclusive flavor favorite like UltraViolet, Non-Dairy Strawberry Swirl, or Non-Dairy Mochaccino Chip – or sticking with an all-time classic exclusive like Mango, Marshmallow Sky, or Chocolate PB Chunk– there's no better way to scoop up some joy than a visit to your local Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. Celebrating National Ice Cream Month has never tasted so good!" - Jessica Dizmang, Franchise Owner, 2024 Operator of the Year Not lucky enough to live near a Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop? No problem! Stay chilled and bring the party wherever you are by grabbing one of Ben & Jerry's new creamy creations from your grocer freezer: Scoop-apalooza Is Here! Bring your friends and family together to check out these perfectly shareable 28 oz containers, with four euphoric flavors to choose from. Sundaes Without the Stress. Ben & Jerry's pre-packaged pint-sized Sundaes are your one-stop, spoon-ready, no-assembly-required summer celebration. Just pop the lid and dig into deliciousness. New Non-Dairy Chocolate Caramel Brownie. Whether you're vegan, dairy-free, or just flavor-curious, this pint is packed with chocolatey, caramelly goodness. Fudgy Flan Limited Batch. Ben & Jerry's newest limited batch flavor features burnt caramel ice cream, fudge brownie pieces, and pastry cream swirls - a deliciously fudgy twist on the burnt caramel masterpiece, Chocoflan. Wherever you are, grab a spoon and a friend and make this National Ice Cream Month the most scoop-tacular one yet with one of Ben & Jerry's decadent Scoop Shop exclusives or take-home indulgences. Find your nearest Scoop Shop and let the celebration begin! About Ben & Jerry's Ben & Jerry's is an aspiring social justice company that believes in a greater calling than simply making and selling the world's best ice cream. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and Non-Dairy/vegan desserts using high-quality ingredients and lots of big chunks and swirls. As a Certified B Corp, Ben & Jerry's incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices via values-led sourcing initiatives when purchasing ingredients. Ben & Jerry's is distributed in over 35 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchised Scoop Shops, and via on-demand delivery services. Ben & Jerry's, a Vermont corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, a fair financial return, and addressing issues of social, racial, and environmental injustice around the globe. The Ben & Jerry's Foundation, guided by Ben & Jerry's employees, granted $4.5 MM in 2024 to support progressive, justice-focused grassroots organizing around the country. For up-to-date information visit View original content: SOURCE Ben & Jerry's
Bloomberg
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ben & Jerry's Fights Unilever on Social Justice in the Trump Era
By and Charlotte Hughes-Morgan Save As the US celebrated Black History Month in February, Ben & Jerry's crafted a social media post on keeping the racial-equality fight going even as President Donald Trump rolled back diversity initiatives. It never saw the light of day.
