Ben & Jerry's has sued parent company Unilever, accusing the consumer goods group of breaching the agreement with the ice cream brand's independent board. Advocacy of Palestinian rights.
In legal documents filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Ben & Jerry's said Unilever has prevented Ben & Jerry's from calling for a ceasefire in Gaza four times, breaking an agreement that its subsidiary Allows the company to determine its social mission. ,
The lawsuit says Unilever has made contributions to Israeli groups and has not been neutral on other issues, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Unilever said, “Our condolences go out to all victims of the tragic events in the Middle East. We reject the claims made by B&J's Social Mission Board, and we will vigorously defend our case. But will not comment further.” In an emailed statement.
The lawsuit continues the ongoing public feud between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. In 2022, Ben & Jerry's board sued Unilever for violating a 2000 merger agreement allowing it to set its social mission.
Unilever said in March it planned to do so spin or sell Its ice cream unit, which includes the Burlington, Vermont-based maker of creamy treats with the decades-old motto of “Peace, Love and Ice Cream.”
The spinoff will end an unusual corporate partnership that began in 2000 when Unilever bought Ben & Jerry's $326 millionAt the time of the purchase, Ben & Jerry's stipulated that it would have an independent board, which would allow it to take openly progressive stances on social and political issues.