Unilever Spins Off Ben & Jerry's Amidst Controversies Over Ice Cream Maker's Activism

Unilever is spinning off its ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's, as part of a business strategy to streamline operations. However, this also allows Unilever to distance itself from controversies surrounding Ben & Jerry's activism.

Ben & Jerry's unique board structure has allowed it to engage in progressive stances, but this has also brought negative attention to parent company Unilever.

Ben & Jerry's decision in 2021 to stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories sparked outrage and accusations of boycotting Israel. This prompted backlash and probes against Unilever.

Ben & Jerry’s Independence Day tweet in 2022 about "stolen Indigenous land" led some Americans to threaten boycotting the brand.

Several U.S. states have divested pensions from Unilever due to the Israel controversy, causing ongoing problems between the subsidiary and parent companies.