The co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s have accused its guardian firm, Unilever, of infringing on the ice cream firm’s rights to regulate its social mission.
The accusation by ice cream tycoons Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield comes amid a lawsuit in opposition to Unilever filed by Ben & Jerry’s after Unilever bought the Israeli department of the favored ice cream maker to a native licensee in June when the corporate determined to not promote its frozen treats within the West Financial institution.
“Unilever has usurped their authority and reversed a call that was made. And we will’t enable that to occur,” Cohen informed MSNBC on Sunday, his first remark in regards to the situation because the lawsuit was filed.
Cohen based the ice cream firm with Greenfield in Vermont in 1978 with a mission to “advance human rights and dignity” and has stated that promoting the ice cream within the West Financial institution is “inconsistent with our values.” The 2 are not on the board of Ben & Jerry’s.
The Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit, filed in July, alleges that the sale violated the phrases of Unilever’s takeover settlement from 2000, when the UK-based shopper items big purchased the ice cream firm for $326 million.
The settlement entitled the Vermont ice cream firm to keep up an unbiased board that manages the corporate’s social accountability.
“To ensure that us to promote the corporate, it was important that we have now this distinctive settlement in
place,” Greenfield informed MSNBC. “The settlement lasts in perpetuity. And so it have to be
revered. [They are] basically saying, ‘Properly, the unbiased board doesn't matter.’”
Responding to feedback that the corporate’s intention to halt gross sales within the West Financial institution is anti-Semitic, Cohen, who stated he's Jewish, responded: “If I care in regards to the individuals in Palestine simply as a lot as I care in regards to the individuals in Israel, is that anti-Semitic? There are moms, fathers, sisters and brothers in Palestine that I care about. I care about their human rights.”
Ben & Jerry’s tried to dam the Israeli sale earlier than it occurred, however a New York federal choose threw out the corporate’s preliminary injunction in August. Now the court docket says it should file an amended grievance by Sept. 27.
Unilever didn't reply to a request for remark.
Post a Comment