Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's began in 1978 when Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened a small ice-cream shop in Burlington, Vermont. With limited capital, the founders used their training in ice-cream production to build a business centered on rich textures, large inclusions, and accessible humor. Their early retail strategy combined a local scoop shop with packaged pints, allowing the company to move beyond Vermont and enter the wider American grocery market. During the 1980s, the company expanded through distribution, franchised scoop shops, and distinctive advertising. A notable early competitive dispute arose in 1984, when the company challenged an attempt connected with Häagen-Dazs distribution restrictions in Boston. Ben & Jerry's public campaign, built around the question of what the rival's parent company was afraid of, helped establish the brand's willingness to use publicity and advocacy in commercial disputes. The business continued to broaden its product range with ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, novelty products, and numerous pint flavors. Flavor names and collaborations became central to its identity. Cherry Garcia, created with a connection to musician Jerry Garcia, and later collaborations such as Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream demonstrated the company's ability to combine entertainment, cultural references, and product development. Social purpose became increasingly formalized as the company grew. Ben & Jerry's supported community organizations and campaigns involving peace, economic justice, environmental protection, racial justice, refugees, and democratic participation. From 2005 to 2008, it worked with climate-change and conservation organizations on youth-oriented climate communication initiatives. In 2014, the company participated in an Australian reef-protection campaign involving WWF Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society. In 2020, it joined the Stop Hate for Profit initiative and paused paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram while calling for stronger action against hate and racism on social platforms. By the late 1990s, pressures associated with consolidation in the ice-cream industry and the company's market position led its board to examine strategic alternatives. In April 2000, Unilever acquired the company for a reported $326 million. The transaction retained a degree of institutional separation for the brand, including an independent board associated with its social mission, while integrating the business into Unilever's global distribution and operating system. The founders no longer ran day-to-day operations, but continued to influence public debate about the company's purpose and governance. The relationship between Ben & Jerry's social mission and Unilever's corporate control has periodically become contentious. A major dispute followed the global company's July 2021 announcement that it would no longer sell products in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, on the grounds that doing so was inconsistent with its values. The move triggered political criticism, consumer pressure, legal conflict, and disagreement with Israeli licensee Avi Zinger. In June 2022, an arrangement transferred or separated relevant Israeli manufacturing and distribution rights so that Zinger's business could continue selling the products across Israel, including settlements, independently of the global company's commercial and legal operations. The Israeli business has since pursued localized marketing and product activity, including limited holiday flavors, the return of the ice-cream sandwich, reintroduction of a cherry flavor, and consumer voting on discontinued flavors. Meanwhile, the global brand has remained known for outspoken statements on social and political issues. Reporting in 2025 described further tension between the founders and Unilever or its reorganized ice-cream structure, including a reported proposal to develop a peace-oriented flavor connected to Gaza and discussions about a possible founder-backed reacquisition. These reports should be treated as developments in an ongoing governance dispute rather than evidence that a sale or separation of Ben & Jerry's has been completed.

1. 2025Founders reportedly consider buying back the brand

   Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield reportedly explore a founder-backed acquisition, while Unilever says Ben & Jerry's is not for sale.

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2. 2023Israeli localized product launches

   The Israeli business launches a limited S'mores flavor and reintroduces its ice-cream sandwich format.

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3. 2022Israeli business separates from global commercial operation

   An agreement allows Avi Zinger's Israeli business to continue manufacturing and selling the brand throughout Israel, including settlements.

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4. 2021Global settlement-policy announcement

   The global organization announces that it will stop selling products in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

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5. 2020Joins Stop Hate for Profit

   The brand pauses paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram and calls for measures against the amplification of racism and hate.

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6. 2000Acquired by Unilever

   Unilever acquires Ben & Jerry's in a transaction reported at $326 million, while the brand retains elements of independent social-purpose governance.

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7. 1984Distribution dispute with Häagen-Dazs

   Ben & Jerry's challenges distribution restrictions connected with Häagen-Dazs and uses a high-profile public campaign to support its position.

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8. 1978Company founded in Vermont

   Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield open their first ice-cream shop in Burlington, Vermont.

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Premium, playful, mix-in-rich frozen desserts combined with an outspoken social-mission and community-activism identity.

• Ben & Jerry's ice cream pintsIce cream1978

  The brand's core format is a packaged pint of dense, indulgent ice cream containing prominent mix-ins such as cookie dough, brownies, chocolate pieces, nuts, fruit, or confectionery inclusions. Flavor names and combinations are central to the product experience, and the portfolio includes both permanent and limited-edition recipes.

• Non-dairy frozen dessertsPlant-based frozen dessert

  Ben & Jerry's offers plant-based frozen desserts made with non-dairy bases for consumers avoiding conventional dairy. These products retain the brand's characteristic mix-in-heavy format and use flavor profiles adapted from its conventional ice-cream range.

• Ice-cream sandwichesFrozen novelty

  The sandwich format places a cookie-dough-style ice-cream product between two chocolate-chip cookies. In Israel, the format was relaunched after reported consumer demand and positioned as a portable alternative to eating ice cream from a pint.

• Ice pops and individual noveltiesFrozen novelty

  The brand also sells individually portioned frozen novelties, including pop-style products and multipacks. These formats extend the brand beyond the traditional pint and are designed for convenient consumption at home or away from a spoon and bowl.

• Chunky MonkeyIce cream flavor

  A signature flavor associated with the brand's early product identity, combining banana ice cream with chocolate and nut inclusions. It exemplifies Ben & Jerry's preference for recognizable flavor names and substantial texture.

• Cherry GarciaIce cream flavor

  A cherry-oriented flavor created as a cultural collaboration associated with musician Jerry Garcia. It became one of the brand's best-known offerings and has been reintroduced in the Israeli market under a different local name.

• Phish FoodIce cream flavor

  A flagship flavor associated with the band Phish, built around chocolate ice cream and confectionery-style inclusions. It represents the company's long-running practice of connecting products with music and popular culture.

• 2023Three-person groups digital campaign

  Israel

  Ben & Jerry's Israel promoted multipacks of Peace Pop-style ice pops through a digital campaign featuring groups of three people with close personal relationships, emphasizing friendship, family, and shared consumption.

  Outcome. The campaign supported the local launch of multipacks across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and the company's website.

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• 2023Lag BaOmer S'mores flavor

  Israel

  A limited-edition marshmallow-and-cookie flavor was developed for the Israeli Lag BaOmer holiday and associated with the tradition of eating around a bonfire.

  Outcome. The localized product created a seasonal Israeli offering and was distributed through supermarkets, convenience stores, and private retailers.

  Source
• 2020Stop Hate for Profit

  United States · International digital channels

  Ben & Jerry's paused paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram and urged the platforms to address the spread and amplification of racism and hate.

  Outcome. The action positioned the brand alongside a wider advertiser boycott and strengthened its public identity as an outspoken social-purpose company.

  Source
• 2014Fight for the Reef

  Australia

  The brand partnered with WWF-Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society on a campaign highlighting threats to coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

  Outcome. The campaign broadened Ben & Jerry's environmental activism into marine conservation.

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• 2005Climate Change College

  Europe · International

  Ben & Jerry's worked with climate researcher Mark Cornelissen and WWF-linked partners on a youth-focused program intended to train participants in climate communication and campaigning.

  Outcome. The initiative reinforced the brand's environmental positioning and connected product marketing with climate advocacy.

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• 1984What’s the Doughboy Afraid Of?

  United States

  Ben & Jerry's used a public-relations and advertising campaign to challenge distribution restrictions affecting its products in Boston and to criticize the competitive conduct associated with Häagen-Dazs and its parent company.

  Outcome. The campaign raised public attention around the distribution dispute and became an early example of the brand using activism-style communications in a commercial conflict.

  Source
• Consumer flavor-return vote

  Israel

  Ben & Jerry's Israel invited consumers to vote for a discontinued flavor to return, using a multi-stage process that narrowed a broad list to finalists before selecting the winning flavor.

  Outcome. The initiative made product assortment decisions part of a customer-engagement program; the source does not establish the final winning flavor or a definitive year.

  Source

• 2025Founders consider a possible buybackM&A

  Cohen and Greenfield reportedly discussed whether socially oriented investors could help them reacquire the brand as Unilever reorganized its ice-cream activities.

  What changed. The founders explored the possibility at a preliminary stage; no completed transaction was reported in the cited material.

  Aftermath. Unilever stated that Ben & Jerry's was not for sale, leaving the ownership structure unchanged in the available reporting.

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• 2023Launch localized Israeli seasonal and portable productsProduct launch

  The Israeli business used local demand and seasonal occasions to refresh its product range.

  What changed. It introduced a limited S'mores flavor for Lag BaOmer and brought back an ice-cream sandwich format.

  Aftermath. The products expanded local occasions and formats beyond standard pints, with distribution through retail and convenience channels.

  Source
• 2022Resolve the Israeli distribution disputeStrategy

  The global policy created a conflict with Israeli manufacturer and licensee Avi Zinger, who opposed restricting sales by territory.

  What changed. Unilever and the Israeli operator reached an arrangement that allowed production and sales throughout Israel, including settlements, through an independent Israeli business.

  Aftermath. The Israeli operation became commercially and legally separate from the global business for the relevant activities, while the wider governance dispute continued.

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• 2021Stop sales in Israeli settlementsStrategy

  The global brand said that continuing commercial activity in Israeli settlements was inconsistent with its values.

  What changed. It announced that sales in Israeli settlements in the West Bank would end and that its Israeli license arrangement would not be renewed in its existing form.

  Aftermath. The decision triggered political and legal pressure, disagreement with the Israeli operator, and a later arrangement under which the Israeli business continued independently.

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• 2020Pause paid advertising on Facebook and InstagramStrategy

  The brand joined the Stop Hate for Profit campaign amid criticism that social platforms were allowing hate and racism to spread.

  What changed. Ben & Jerry's suspended paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram and called for clearer platform action.

  Aftermath. The move reinforced the brand's activist positioning and aligned it with participating advertisers and civil-society groups.

  Source
• 2000Sell the company to UnileverM&A

  Facing a consolidating ice-cream market and strategic pressure, Ben & Jerry's board examined a sale despite reservations associated with the founders.

  What changed. The company accepted Unilever's acquisition in a reported cash transaction valued at $326 million.

  Aftermath. The brand gained global distribution and remained a distinct social-purpose brand within Unilever, while Cohen and Greenfield left day-to-day management.

  Reported acquisition value. 326 million USD (2000)

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• 2025Founders' allegations of censorship and governance conflictControversy

  Reports described criticism by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield that Unilever or the ice-cream business was restricting the brand's social and political expression. The reporting included a proposed peace-related flavor connected with Gaza and renewed calls for greater independence; the claims and negotiations remained contested.

  Source
• 2022Conflict between the independent board and UnileverControversy

  Ben & Jerry's independent board pursued legal action alleging that Unilever's handling of the Israeli business conflicted with the brand's social mission and governance arrangements. The dispute contributed to an agreement allowing the Israeli operation to continue independently.

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• 2021Dispute over sales in Israeli settlementsControversy

  The global brand announced that it would stop selling products in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, describing the policy as connected to its stated values. The decision prompted political condemnation, boycott threats, legal disputes, and conflict with the Israeli licensee and with Unilever's broader corporate interests.

  Source

• 2026Ben & Jerry's Israel introduced a locally themed Milk and Honey flavor

  The Israeli operation launched a flavor using dairy and honey associated with southern Israeli communities and presented it as a product connected to recovery and resilience after the October 7 attacks and subsequent war.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2025Founders explore a possible reacquisition from Unilever

  Reports said Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield had held preliminary discussions about assembling socially oriented investors to buy the brand, while Unilever stated that the brand was not for sale.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2025Jochanan Senf becomes Ben & Jerry's CEO

  Jochanan Senf assumed the Ben & Jerry's CEO role in July 2025 after previously holding senior ice-cream and foods positions within Unilever.

  Leadership change
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• 2025Ben & Jerry's transfers into The Magnum Ice Cream Company

  The ice-cream portfolio separated from Unilever and became part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which owns Ben & Jerry's as a wholly owned subsidiary.

  M&A
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• 2025Unilever announces planned separation of its ice-cream business

  Unilever announced plans to separate its ice-cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry's, into a standalone company. The proposed change is relevant to the brand's ownership and operating structure, but the final completion status and resulting corporate arrangements require verification from current company disclosures.

  M&A
• 2024Ben & Jerry's Israel revives Cherry Garcia under a new local name

  After repeated customer requests, the Israeli business returned a cherry-focused flavor to store freezers under the name Cherry Cherry Dream.

  Product launchProduct generation
  Source
• 2024Ben & Jerry's launches an activist-focused advertising campaign

  The brand introduced 'Make Some Motherchunkin' Change!', its first broad advertising campaign in several years, encouraging audiences to participate in community and social causes through online, social, and out-of-home media.

  Campaign
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• 2024Ben & Jerry’s launches “Make Some Motherchunkin’ Change!” activism campaign

  The brand’s first major brand advertising campaign in nearly a decade used a 90-second film and digital, social, and out-of-home placements to encourage people to pursue activism through their own skills and interests.

  Campaign
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• 2024Ben & Jerry’s faces governance conflict with Unilever

  Reporting described a prolonged process involving proposed changes to the brand’s independent board amid disagreements over the scope of its social activism and corporate oversight.

  Leadership changeOther
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• 2024Ben & Jerry's launches first major brand campaign in nearly a decade

  The “Make Some Motherchunkin' Change!” campaign used a 90-second film, digital and social placements, and outdoor advertising in New York and Los Angeles to encourage audiences to pursue activism in their own ways.

  Campaign
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• 2024Unilever's ice cream separation creates uncertainty around Ben & Jerry's corporate structure

  Unilever announced plans to separate its ice cream portfolio, raising questions about how Ben & Jerry's social-mission protections and independent governance would operate after a corporate reorganization.

  M&AOther
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• 2024Unilever announces ice-cream business separation

  Unilever announced plans to separate its ice-cream business, including Ben & Jerry's, into a standalone company while simplifying the broader Unilever group.

  M&A
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• 2024Ben & Jerry's launches 'Progress Comes in Many Flavors'

  Ben & Jerry's and its founders promoted a campaign encouraging progressive political and social action through a series of advertisements.

  Campaign
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• 2023Ben & Jerry's Israel launches a limited S'mores flavor for Lag BaOmer

  The Israeli operation introduced a limited-edition flavor combining marshmallow, cookie pieces, chocolate-cookie crumbs, and fudge pieces for the Lag BaOmer holiday.

  Product launch
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• 2023Ben & Jerry's Israel brings back its ice-cream sandwich

  The business reintroduced an individual sandwich format made with cookie-dough-style ice cream between two chocolate-chip cookies, following reported consumer demand.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2023David Stever becomes chief executive officer

  Ben & Jerry's announced David Stever as chief executive after Matthew McCarthy's retirement.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Ben & Jerry's announces a settlement allowing Israeli operations to continue

  An agreement involving Unilever and Israeli licensee Avi Zinger allowed the Israeli business to manufacture and sell Ben & Jerry's products throughout Israel, including settlements, after the global brand's 2021 policy change.

  LawsuitOther
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• 2022Ben & Jerry's launches Mootopia farm-emissions pilot

  The company began a pilot across 15 supplier farms in the United States and the Netherlands to reduce the emissions intensity of dairy production through regenerative agriculture practices.

  Other
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• 2022Ben & Jerry's partners with Tony's Chocolonely on child-labor awareness

  The companies collaborated to raise awareness of modern slavery and child labor risks in the chocolate supply chain.

  CampaignOther
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• 2022Unilever sells Ben & Jerry's Israel business to American Quality Products

  Unilever announced an agreement to sell its Ben & Jerry's business in Israel to American Quality Products, the company associated with local licensee Avi Zinger. The arrangement allowed the products to be sold under their English and Hebrew branding throughout Israel and the West Bank.

  M&AOther
  Source
• 2021Ben & Jerry's announces it will stop sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

  Ben & Jerry's said that selling its products in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was inconsistent with its values and announced that sales there would end when its licensing arrangement expired. The announcement triggered opposition from the Israeli licensee and criticism from Israeli officials and advocacy groups.

  RegulationOther
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• 2020Ben & Jerry's publicly supports racial-justice protests

  The company published a widely circulated statement supporting racial justice and describing structural racism as a continuing problem in the United States. The communication reinforced the brand's long-standing use of its platform for social advocacy.

  Campaign
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• 2016Ben & Jerry's launches vegan non-dairy products

  The brand expanded beyond dairy ice cream with a non-dairy range initially based on almond milk, responding to demand for plant-based options and extending several familiar flavor concepts into a new format.

  Product launch
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• 2015Ben & Jerry's launches Cookie Cores campaign

  A United Kingdom campaign supported new flavors built around a cookie-filled center and highlighted the brand's sourcing and social-mission messages.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2014Ben & Jerry's promotes Greek Style Frozen Yogurt in the United Kingdom

  The brand supported a three-flavor Greek-style frozen-yogurt launch with television, social, and sampling activity, targeting consumers interested in a lighter alternative within the premium frozen-dessert category.

  Product launchCampaign
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• 2013GMO-free commitment announced

  Ben & Jerry's committed to removing genetically modified ingredients from its products in support of mandatory GMO labeling legislation.

  Regulation
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• 2009Ben & Jerry's launches CyClone Dairy hoax

  The company revealed that a fictional milk brand supposedly using cloned cows was an April Fool's campaign intended to promote consumer choice and traceability for products from cloned animals.

  CampaignRegulation
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• 2006Ben & Jerry's stops using Eco-Pint containers

  The company discontinued Eco-Pint packaging and moved to bleached paperboard containers that it considered more available and operationally reliable.

  Other
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• 2001Eco-Pint packaging rollout is completed in the United States

  The U.S. business completed a transition to unbleached paperboard Eco-Pint containers, later reversing the decision because of supply, quality, and cost issues.

  Other
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• 2000Ben & Jerry's is acquired by Unilever

  Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's for $326 million. The transaction preserved a separate operating structure and mission-related governance arrangements.

  M&A
  Source
• 2000Ben & Jerry's becomes part of Unilever

  Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's, creating the ownership structure under which the brand's international operations, including the UK market, subsequently developed.

  M&A
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• 2000Unilever agrees to acquire Ben & Jerry's

  Unilever acquired Ben & Jerry's, bringing the independent ice-cream company into a global consumer-goods group while establishing governance arrangements intended to preserve its social mission.

  M&A
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• 1989Ben & Jerry's announces opposition to rBGH

  The company announced that it opposed the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone in its products and favored less chemically intensive agricultural practices.

  RegulationOther
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• 1987Cherry Garcia launches

  Ben & Jerry's introduced Cherry Garcia as a tribute to Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, establishing a model for celebrity- and musician-themed flavors.

  Product launch
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• 1984Ben & Jerry's challenges Häagen-Dazs distribution restrictions

  The company sued Pillsbury over efforts associated with limiting Ben & Jerry's distribution through Boston-area distributors and promoted the dispute through the 'What's the Doughboy Afraid Of?' campaign.

  LawsuitCampaign
  Source
• 1984Ben & Jerry's completes Vermont-only public offering

  The company sold shares in a Vermont-only offering that raised $750,000 for expansion.

  Other
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• 1981First Ben & Jerry's franchise opens

  The brand opened its first franchise location in Shelburne, Vermont, beginning a broader retail expansion model.

  Other
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• 1980Ben & Jerry's begins selling packaged pints

  The company expanded beyond scoop-shop service by packing ice cream into pints, creating a platform for retail distribution.

  Product generation
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• 1978Ben & Jerry's opens its first scoop shop in Burlington

  Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened the first Ben & Jerry's ice-cream parlor in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

  Other
  Source
• Ben & Jerry's continues climate and social-justice campaigning

  The brand has continued to use its global and local communications to advocate on issues including climate action, racial justice, refugee rights and LGBTQ+ equality.

  Campaign
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1. Ben & Jerry's Hebrew Wikipedia article
2. Ynet report on the Israeli settlement-sales agreement
3. Ynet report on Ben & Jerry's political history
4. Calcalist report on the Unilever governance dispute
5. Mako report on founder criticism of Unilever
6. TheMarker report on a possible founder buyback
7. Ben & Jerry's Israel S'mores launch
8. Ben & Jerry's Israel ice-cream sandwich relaunch
9. Ben & Jerry's Israel Cherry Cherry Dream relaunch
10. Ben & Jerry's Israel consumer flavor vote
11. Three-person groups digital campaign
12. Ben & Jerry’s sues Unilever over alleged interference with public advocacy
13. Ben & Jerry's faces renewed dispute with Unilever over social-mission governance
14. Ben & Jerry's says David Stever was removed over social activism
15. Ben & Jerry's sues Unilever over alleged restrictions on advocacy
16. Ben & Jerry's sues Unilever over control of social-mission communications
17. Reports raise questions about migrant children in dairy supply chains
18. Unilever sells Ben & Jerry's Israeli business to local licensee
19. Unilever sells Ben & Jerry's Israeli business
20. Ben & Jerry's sues Unilever over alleged interference with its independent board
21. Ben & Jerry's sues Unilever over control of Israeli business
22. Ben & Jerry's independent board challenges Israel business sale
23. StandWithUs launches an advertising campaign targeting Unilever over Ben & Jerry's Israel policy
24. Israel and Palestinian-territory sales dispute
25. Ben & Jerry's announces decision to stop sales in occupied Palestinian territory
26. Ben & Jerry's announces end to sales in occupied Palestinian territory
27. Israeli and Palestinian-territory sales dispute
28. Ben & Jerry's ends sales in the occupied Palestinian territories
29. Jochanan Senf becomes Ben & Jerry's CEO
30. Ben & Jerry's transfers into The Magnum Ice Cream Company
31. Ben & Jerry's launches an activist-focused advertising campaign
32. Ben & Jerry’s launches “Make Some Motherchunkin’ Change!” activism campaign
33. Ben & Jerry’s faces governance conflict with Unilever
34. Unilever's ice cream separation creates uncertainty around Ben & Jerry's corporate structure
35. Unilever announces ice-cream business separation
36. Ben & Jerry's launches 'Progress Comes in Many Flavors'
37. Ben & Jerry's launches Mootopia farm-emissions pilot
38. Ben & Jerry's partners with Tony's Chocolonely on child-labor awareness
39. Unilever sells Ben & Jerry's Israel business to American Quality Products
40. Ben & Jerry's announces it will stop sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
41. Ben & Jerry's publicly supports racial-justice protests
42. Ben & Jerry's launches vegan non-dairy products
43. Ben & Jerry's launches Cookie Cores campaign
44. Ben & Jerry's promotes Greek Style Frozen Yogurt in the United Kingdom
45. Ben & Jerry's becomes part of Unilever
46. Unilever agrees to acquire Ben & Jerry's
47. Ben & Jerry's continues climate and social-justice campaigning