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The co-founders of the well-known ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how parent company Unilever prevented the launch of a new Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded the business alongside Jerry Greenfield, revealed how he will independently develop this new product as part of a personal collection showcasing causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Conflict Between Founders and Parent Company

This latest announcement intensifies the continuing tension among the world-famous dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that has owned the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have claimed how Unilever and their ice cream division Magnum unlawfully blocked their company against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen stated through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions regarding naming options plus additional components.

“I'm accomplishing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that advocates for lasting ceasefire in Palestine while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem of support for the Palestinian people because of its colors, that closely resemble those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

In 2021, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting continued sales in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series is being developed under Mr. Cohen's personal brand, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally created in 2016 for endorsing former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts plus Future Plans

The founder stated how he plans to create other ice cream flavors focusing on concerns which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to Unilever.

This development follows partner Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company in September, following decades with the organization, citing worries regarding how its independence had been compromised following corporate moves to curb its social activism.

Previously, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was breaking it."

“My conscience leads me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can achieve the social mission, the principles which established its foundation and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Parent company limitations on social activism
• Personal flavor creation by company founders
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus social mission