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Ben & Jerry's has claimed that parent company Unilever is forcing out its chief executive, David Stever, amid a dispute over the ice cream brand's political activism.
The allegation emerged in a legal filing from the firm in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The company accused Unilever of breaching its 2000 merger agreement by attempting to suppress its "social mission."
According to the filing, Unilever had "repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry's personnel, including CEO David Stever, should they fail to comply with Unilever's efforts to silence the social mission."
The dispute escalated following Ben & Jerry's public criticism of US President Donald Trump, with Unilever reportedly demanding the company halt its remarks. The ice cream maker has also voiced support for Palestine and advocated for a Gaza ceasefire, further straining relations.
Unilever responded by expressing disappointment that details of an internal career discussion had been made public. The consumer goods giant said it had made "repeated attempts to engage the [Ben & Jerry's] board and follow the correct process."
Longstanding tensions
The conflict highlights ongoing friction between Unilever and Ben & Jerry's, which has maintained a strong social justice platform since its founding in 1978. Known for backing causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and climate change, the ice cream maker has often clashed with its owner over political messaging.
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's halted sales in the West Bank, a move deemed controversial by supporters of Israel. More recently, the company's activism over Gaza heightened tensions. The latest court filing revealed Unilever's alleged attempts to prevent Ben & Jerry's from even publicly criticising Donald Trump.
Rubberstamping the decision
Stever, who joined Ben & Jerry's in 1988 as a tour guide, became CEO in 2023. Ben & Jerry's claims Unilever decided to remove him without consulting the independent board established in the merger agreement to protect the brand's values.
"Unilever... attempted to force the independent board into rubberstamping the decision," the filing stated.
Unilever countered by asserting that the merger terms clearly outline its authority over executive appointments and dismissals, following "good faith consultation and discussion with the B&J's Independent Board."
"We hope that the B&J Independent Board will engage as per the original, agreed process," a Unilever spokesperson added.
