Ben & Jerry’s says its CEO was unlawfully removed by its parent company, Unilever, in retaliation for the ice cream maker’s social and political activism.
In a federal court filing late Tuesday, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever informed its board on March 3 that it was removing and replacing Ben & Jerry’s CEO David Stever. Ben & Jerry’s said that violated its merger agreement with Unilever, which states that any decisions regarding a CEO’s removal must come after a consultation with an advisory committee from Ben & Jerry’s board.
In an announcement Wednesday, London-based Unilever said it hoped Ben & Jerry’s board would engage within the agreed-upon process.
“Regrettably, despite repeated attempts to interact the board and follow the proper process, we’re disillusioned that the confidentiality of an worker profession conversation has been made public,” Unilever said.
Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million. On the time, Ben & Jerry’s said the partnership would help the progressive Vermont-based ice cream company expand its social mission.
But currently, the wedding hasn’t been a joyful one. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced it will stop serving Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem. The next 12 months, Unilever sold its Israeli business to an area company that said it will sell Ben & Jerry’s under its Hebrew and Arabic name throughout Israel and the West Bank.
Last May, Unilever said it was planning to spin off its ice cream business — including Ben & Jerry’s — by the tip of 2025 as part of a bigger restructuring. Unilever also owns personal hygiene brands like Dove soap and food brands like Hellmann’s mayonnaise.
However the acrimony continued. In November, Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever in federal court in Latest York, accusing it of silencing Ben & Jerry’s statements in support of Palestinians within the Gaza war.
In its criticism, Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever also refused to let the corporate release a social media post that identified issues it believed could be challenged during President Donald Trump’s second term, including minimum wages, universal health care, abortion and climate change.
Tuesday’s filing was an amendment to that lawsuit.