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Ben & Jerry’s claims that his parent company Unilever had released his chief executive after less than two years in the role as a row between the two sides about the political activism of the ice cream brand.
In a legal complaint, which was submitted to the US district court for the southern district of New York on Tuesday evening, Ben & Jerry claimed that Unilever had dismissed the managing director David Stever after he had not complied with the efforts of the parent company to prevent them from pronouncing political issues.
“Unilever has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry, including CEO David Stever, if they do not silence the efforts of Unilever to silence social mission,” says the registration.
“On March 3, 2025, Unilever informed the Independent Board that they replaced Mr. Stever as CEO of Ben & Jerry.”
Unilever Didn’t answer a request for comments immediately.
The submission is the latest information between the brand and its parent company about how Ben & Jerry communicates his “social mission”, including his demand for a ceasefire in Gaza and support for Palestinian refugees.
Last November by Ben & Jerry’s submitted a complaint Unilever’s claim had tried to block his call for an armistice in Gaza and prevent him from supporting Palestinian refugees. Unilever rejected the claims.
The two sides have a history of disagreement about Israel and Palestine. In 2022, Ben & Jerry’s Unilever sued the parent company blocked his attempts To sell the sale of ice in the occupied areas by disposing of the brand’s Israeli arm to a local licensee.
The producer of ice aromas such as Phish Food and Chunky Monkey was taken over by Unilever in 2000. A merger contract was made between the two and an independent board was set up to protect Ben & Jerry’s values and brand integrity.
The board claims to try Unilever to “dismantle” it and sue individual members, which violates the conditions of the merger agreement.
“Dave bravely advanced the social mission and the values of the company,” said Anuradha Mittal, chairman of the Independent Board.
“What Dave did not do is what Unilever he would have to monitor Ben & Jerry’s mission, progressive values and the 2000 fusion contract, which protected Ben & Jerry’s position as a 100 % autonomous subsidiary,” she added.
Unilever, which produces everyday goods from shampoo and detergent for make-up, is With the separation The ice pass business of € 8 billion to list it in the Netherlands.
Stever was promoted to Chief Executive in May 2023 and was previously Ben & Jerry’s Chief Marketing Officer. In 1988 he joined the company as a factory guide.
