Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has launched a campaign to take back the ice-cream brand from its parent company Magnum Ice Cream Company, claiming the corporation has dismantled the independent board that once protected the brand’s social activism and values.
Cohen’s efforts stem from a longstanding dispute between the brand’s founders and its corporate owners. In November 2024, Ben & Jerry’s board sued Unilever—the previous parent company—alleging it was prevented from expressing support for Gaza and accusing the company of breaching their original 2000 acquisition agreement. The tension escalated when Unilever announced plans to spin off its ice-cream division into Magnum in September 2025. Cohen subsequently initiated the “Free Ben & Jerry’s” campaign, calling on Magnum to divest the brand so it can operate independently. More recently, he has called for boycotts of Magnum’s other brands, including Yasso, Breyers, Talenti, and Klondike, to pressure the company into selling.
The dispute centers on governance and activism. The original 1978 partnership between Cohen and childhood friend Jerry Greenfield was structured with an independent board safeguarding the brand’s social mission alongside profitability. Recent years have seen significant erosion of this independence. The company faced conflict after its board stated that selling ice cream in occupied Palestine conflicted with company values. In 2025, Magnum replaced the brand’s CEO David Stever, and later imposed term limits that reduced Unilever veterans on the board. The brand’s philanthropic foundation was forced to close in July after Magnum cut its funding, citing governance concerns.
Magnum maintains that Ben & Jerry’s remains strong within its portfolio and is not for sale. The company reported the brand achieved 3% organic sales growth in 2025 and is among its top four performers. Company officials dispute Cohen’s product quality criticism and note the brand continues supporting social causes including voting rights and refugee support.
Experts suggest Cohen faces significant obstacles. Boycotts typically fail due to waning public attention, and forcing an $11 billion conglomerate to divest a profitable brand is highly unusual. However, Cohen has gathered approximately 200,000 petition signatures and claims millions of supporters stand with the brand’s social mission. The outcome remains uncertain as the legal battle continues through federal court.
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