Title: Ben & Jerry's and Unilever Across Tides over Trump's Post
Title: Ben & Jerry's and Unilever Across Tides over Trump's Post
Ben & Jerry's and their parent company Unilever are once again embroiled in a legal dispute, this time revolving around a social media post planned for former US President Donald Trump's inauguration day. The amended lawsuit, filed in a New York court, alleges that Unilever's ice cream division head, Peter ter Kulve, banned the publication of the post due to its mention of Trump. Ben & Jerry's accuses ter Kulve of stifling criticism of Trump, a stance the company has historically taken against the Trump administration's policies.
The original lawsuit, filed in November 2021, accused Unilever of suppressing statements from Ben & Jerry's in support of Palestinian refugees and calls to end military aid to Israel. The legal dispute also involved a $25 million payment Unilever was required to make to selected causes chosen by Ben & Jerry's, with $5 million intended for human rights groups and $20 million for Palestinian almond farmers and a Fair Trade almond producer.
Ben & Jerry's and Unilever have had a contentious relationship since 2021, when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling in the Israeli-occupied West Bank due to their company values. This decision led to shareholder backlash and a lawsuit after Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local licensee. In 2022, a settlement was reached, requiring Unilever to respect Ben & Jerry's independent board and social mission, and pay the $25 million. However, Ben & Jerry's alleges that Unilever has resisted fulfilling these obligations.
Unilever's plans to spin off its ice cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry's and Langnese, could be complicated by this ongoing legal dispute. The latest revelations add fuel to the fire, potentially escalating the situation further. Both companies have yet to comment on the allegations.
[1] Cohen, S. (2021, July 20). Ben & Jerry's Breaks Ties With Israel Over West Bank Settlements. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-20/ben-jerry-s-breaks-ties-with-israel-over-west-bank-settlements[4] Seal, C., & England, K. (2022, August 24). Unilever wins preliminary court case to enforce Ben & Jerry's sell-off in West Bank. The Guardian. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/24/ben-jerry-israel-west-bank-unilever-wins-court-case[5] Seal, C., & England, K. (2022, January 18). Unilever agrees settlement with Ben & Jerry's over sale of Israeli branch. The Guardian. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/18/unilever-agrees-settlement-with-ben-jerrys-over-sale-of-israeli-branch
The Commission has been monitoring the ongoing legal dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever, taking note of the allegations made by Ben & Jerry's against Unilever's ice cream division head, Peter ter Kulve. The Commission is concerned about these claims of Unilever stifling Ben & Jerry's critical stance towards former US President Donald Trump and its historical positions on political issues.