Dee-Ann Durbin
Ben & Jerry’s says the CEO was illegally removed by parent company Unilever in retaliation for the ice cream maker’s social and political activities.
In a federal court filed late Tuesday, Ben & Jerry said Unilever informed the board on March 3 that Ben & Jerry CEO David Stever was removing and replacing Ben & Jerry’s CEO. Ben & Jerry said he breached the merger agreement with Unilever. Unilever said decisions regarding the removal of CEOs must come after consultations with the advisory committee from the Ben & Jerry board.
The Associated Press left a message on Wednesday seeking comment with London-based Unilever.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry in 2000 for $326 million. At the time, Ben & Jerry said the partnership would help the progressive Vermont-based ice cream company expand its social mission.
However, recently marriage has not been happy. In 2021, Ben & Jerry fought against East Jerusalem, announcing that it would halt services to Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. The following year, Unilever said it would sell its Israeli business to local businesses and sell Ben & Jerry in Hebrew and Arabic names across Israel and the West Bank.
Last May, Unilever said it plans to spin-off the ice cream business, including Ben & Jerry, by the end of 2025 as part of a larger restructuring. Unilever also owns personal hygiene brands like Dove Soap and food brands like Hellmann’s Mayonnaise.
But the criticism continued. In November, Ben & Jerry sued Unilever in federal court in New York, accusing Ben & Jerry of silenceating the statements in favor of the Palestinians in the Gaza War.
In a complaint by Ben & Jerry, Unilever also refused to publish social media posts to the company identifying issues that they believed would be challenged by President Donald Trump’s second term, including minimum wage, universal health care, abortion and climate change.
The application on Tuesday was an amendment to the lawsuit.
Original issue: March 19, 2025, 12:53pm EDT
