Unilever hit ‘new levels of oppressiveness,’ Ben & Jerry’s claims as its CEO was sacked over social activism

Ben and Jerry have filed another legal complaint against the Giant Unilver of consumer goods, claiming that it was released to the Chief Executive Officer of Ben and Jerry.

The last complaint in his last night, Ben and Jerry claims that Unilever has threatened with the staff who opposes the “social mission” efforts.

David Autivation has been with Ben and Jerry for 34 years, as a tour guide, as a CMO, and then as General Director. Vermont-based ice cream brand insisted that Stre did not shoot for performance, but because he does not meet unilver standards, not talking about political issues.

Unilever then “informed the independent board” that Ben & Jerry’s CEO will be replaced on March 3, 2025.

The transfer was hindered by “the director’s responsibilities, deliberately undermines the social mission and the integrity of the brand,” said the lawsuit.

Ben and Jerry added that Unilever’s control over its social mission hit the new levels of pressure.

Unilever’s spokesman said the company was following the removal of the General Director of Ben and Jerry.

“Regardlessly, despite repeating the council and tracting the right process, we are disappointed that the confidentiality of the employee’s career conversation has been published,” said the speaker.

Ben and Jerry’s representatives did not respond immediately FortuneWith a request to comment.

Complex legal network

The ice cream brand and its much larger parent company have repeatedly severed issues over the pastimes. Ben & Jerry’s was founded in 1978 for social reasons in his heart.

Even after I was buying from Unilever to 2000, the brand did not avoid advanced views that deviated from his parental position. It has been spoken Against GMO The composition of its ice cream is in the past and supports the movement of the question of black life, among others.

Clashes recently started in 2021, when Ben and Jerry said that will not sell Its products are at the occupied West Coast in Israel. This led to the client’s anger against Unilever, which was accused of being able to make such a step.

FTSE100 company, which had 61 billion euros turnover 2024.

A year later, Ben and Jerry sues unilver As his parent company plans to sell Ben and Jerry’s Israeli actions to a local licensed person, allowing his ice cream to continue to market the war. Judicial process also said that Unilever’s move would break it 2000 Acquisition Transaction, What let Ben and Jerry continue with his social mission? The consumer giant sold his Israeli Ben & Jerry’s Arm, and Unilever and the settlements of Ben & Jerry.

But the contact did not end there. In 2024, Ben and Jerry initiated a fresh lawsuit against “Unilever” claiming “inappropriate confusion” when he wanted to support Palestinian refugees During the Gaza War. The lawsuit says that Unilever is even threatening to dismantle Ben and Jerry’s counsel and sue individual members if Ben and Jerry are protected from the ceasefire.

Voluntary rejected This claim that this claims that “will protect our work very strong” according to Bloomberg.

In January, Ben and Jerry’s accused is accused suppressing that The release of the social policy statement, as President Donald Trump mentioned it. The claims about the General Director of the goods are simply the last in the flow of legal complaints.

This David-and-Goliath complex takes place in the same way as Unilever was announced Last month plans have to rotate its entire ice cream business, including Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s through triple listing.

The founders of Ben and Jerry are reported to take into account the price of ice cream Brand Back:Bloomberg reported last month. But Unilever said that “not selling” and will soon be part of the ice cream organization.

Update: March 19, 2025. This article has been updated with Unilever’s comment.

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