Lessons learned from ice cream

 Lessons learned from ice cream 

 

In May of 2010, I published an article that explained how lessons learned from ice cream can help us get what we want from life.

https://tohell-andback.blogspot.com/2010/05/

That story came to mind this morning when I read that the founders of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream had endorsed a political candidate named Kai.

Ben and Jerry’s is a notable example of a “rags to riches” story, since they formed the company after learning how to make ice cream online.

 

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc. is an American company that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet. Founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, the company went from a single ice cream parlor to a multinational brand over the course of a few decades. The company was sold in 2000 to the British multinational conglomerate Unilever but operates as an independent subsidiary. Its present-day headquarters is in South Burlington, Vermont, with its factory in Waterbury, Vermont.

Ben & Jerry's is known for their original flavors, many of which incorporate foods and desserts mixed with ice cream. Some of these flavors have been themed after musicians, comedians, and public figures, such as Jerry Garcia, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Colin Kaepernick, and Phish. The company and its two founders have also been noted for their political activism and advocacy for social justice. This includes the way their products have been manufactured, marketed, and distributed.

The company was founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who had been friends since their childhood in Merrick, New York. Although Greenfield finished college, he was unable to get into medical school. Cohen dropped out of school.

 In 1977, Cohen and Greenfield incorporated a business, planning to open a bagel shop, but found the requisite equipment was too expensive. They instead completed a correspondence course on ice cream making from Pennsylvania State University's creamery. Cohen has severe anosmia, a lack of a sense of smell, so he relies on mouthfeel and texture to provide variety in his diet. This led to the company's trademark chunks being mixed in with their ice cream. On May 5, 1978, with a $12,000  investment (equivalent to $59,000 in 2025), Cohen and Greenfield opened an ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station in downtown Burlington, Vermont. In 1979, they marked their anniversary by holding the first "free cone day", now an annual event at every Ben & Jerry's store, from that year to 2019, and resuming in 2023

In April 2000, Ben & Jerry's sold itself to British multinational food giant Unilever for $326 million ($607 million in 2025 accounting for inflation). In the acquisition agreement, Unilever agreed to carry on the company's tradition of engaging "in these critical, global economic and social missions". Following the acquisition, both founders remained employed at the company, though not in a position of operational or managerial responsibility, although Cohen remained on the governing board of directors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_%26_Jerry%27s

It’s a well-known fact that Ben and Jerry have long been politically active, which can be costly, since boycotts by various groups can be costly. However, because they wanted to maintain their core values, they left the company in September of 2025.

https://abcnews.com/GMA/Food/ben-jerrys-resign-ice-cream-co-founder-values-unilever/story?id=125659735

Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream brand, has officially quit the business after he said he concluded that his core values of spreading love and fighting for equity and justice are "no longer possible" at the company.

Ben Cohen, his co-founder, first shared the news Tuesday in a post on social media. “I never thought I would have to write this, but after 47 years Jerry has made the difficult decision to stand down from the company we built together," Cohen stated in the caption. "I am sharing his own words as he resigns from Ben & Jerry’s."

"His legacy deserves to be true to the values we founded this company on, not silenced by @magnum," Cohen said addressing the ice cream company owned by Unilever.

Ben Cohen, his co-founder, first shared the news Tuesday in a post on social media stating his longtime business partner would be resigning.

It's with a broken heart that I've decided I can no longer, in good conscience, and after 47 years, remain an employee of Ben & Jerry's. I am resigning from the company Ben and I started back in 1978. This is one of the hardest and most painful decisions I've ever made," the statement from Greenfield began. "This isn't because I've lost my love for the people at Ben & Jerry's. Quite the opposite."

Greenfield went on to explain that what made their business "more than just an ice cream company, was the independence to pursue our values, which was guaranteed when Unilever bought the company."

In 2000, Unilever purchased the iconic Vermont-based ice cream brand that built a reputation on advocacy around social missions that seek to eliminate injustices in communities.

Under its ownership, Greenfield said Ben & Jerry's maintained their independence "in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company's governance structure in perpetuity. It's profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone."

Citing the current Trump administration, which he accused of "attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community," Greenfield emphasized that "standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important."

"Ben & Jerry's has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power. It's easy to stand up and speak out when there's nothing at risk. The real test of values is when times are challenging and you have something to lose," Greenfield said.

A representative for the Trump Administration did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

"It was always about more than just ice cream; it was a way to spread love and invite others into the fight for equity, justice and a better world. Coming to the conclusion that this is no longer possible at Ben & Jerry's means I can no longer remain part of Ben & Jerry's," Greenfield said. "If I can't carry those values forward inside the company today, then I will carry them forward outside, with all the love and conviction I can."

A spokesperson for the Magnum Ice Cream Company said in a statement to ABC News on Wednesday: "We will be forever grateful to Jerry for his role in co-founding such an amazing ice cream company, turning his passion for delicious ice cream and addressing social causes into a remarkable success story. We thank him for his service and support over many decades and wish him well in his next chapter."

The Magnum spokesperson added, "We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry's powerful values-based position in the world. We remain committed to Ben & Jerry's unique three-part mission – product, economic and social – and remain focused on carrying forward the legacy of peace, love, and ice cream of this iconic, much-loved brand. Ben & Jerry's is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company and we look forward to further building on its success."

Earlier this month, Unilever’s President of Ice Cream Peter Kulve, who oversees Magnum, dismissed talks of selling Ben & Jerry's, Reuters first reported.

In March, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the parent company of improperly removing the ice cream brand's CEO David Stever in an alleged long-running campaign of censorship over the brand's support of political causes. The lawsuit is ongoing.

A representative for Unilever told ABC News at the time that the parent company made "repeated attempts" to engage Ben & Jerry's independent board and follow "the correct process."

In today’s environment, far too many medica companies, law firms, and educational institutions have capitulated to the whims of a madman, so it is refreshing that people like Ben and Jerry will continue to “fight the good fight.

 

Since I am a diabetic, I have largely sworn off eating ice cream, but the next time I go to the story, I’m going to buy a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. 

It's the least I can do.