Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, has resigned from the ice cream company after nearly 50 years. He cited a conflict between his core values and the company's direction under its parent company, Unilever. Greenfield announced his decision in a statement shared by fellow co-founder Ben Cohen on social media.

In his resignation, Greenfield expressed deep disappointment, stating, "It’s with a broken heart that I’ve decided I can no longer, in good conscience, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry's." He emphasized that his departure was not due to a loss of affection for the people at the company but rather a fundamental disagreement over the company's current operations.

Greenfield explained that the independence they once enjoyed, which was a key factor in Unilever's acquisition of Ben & Jerry's in 2000, has diminished. He stated, "It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone." He criticized the current political climate, particularly the actions of the Trump administration, which he believes have attacked civil rights and marginalized various communities.

"Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important," Greenfield said. He accused Ben & Jerry's of being "silenced" and sidelined due to fear of upsetting those in power. He added, "The real test of values is when times are challenging and you have something to lose."

Cohen echoed Greenfield's sentiments, stating, "His legacy deserves to be true to the values we founded this company on, not silenced by Magnum," referring to the ice cream brand owned by Unilever.

A spokesperson for Magnum expressed gratitude for Greenfield's contributions but disagreed with his perspective. They stated, "We remain committed to Ben & Jerry's unique three-part mission – product, economic, and social – and we look forward to further building on its success."

The resignation comes amid ongoing tensions between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit against Unilever, alleging improper actions regarding the removal of its CEO and censorship of the brand's political statements. The lawsuit is still pending.

As of now, there are no plans to change the company's name following Greenfield's departure. The future direction of Ben & Jerry's remains uncertain as it navigates these challenges.