Ben & Jerry’s founders name for ice cream model to be ‘launched’ from Magnum giants

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The founders of Ben & Jerry’s have demanded the model be "launched" from its ice cream mother or father enterprise forward of a deliberate inventory market float.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield penned an open letter, calling for independence. Addressed to Magnum’s board and potential traders, their plea acknowledged they don't want for the 1978-founded model to be a part of the spun-off enterprise, as Magnum spoke to traders and analysts in London.

Nonetheless, Magnum pressured that Ben & Jerry’s is "not on the market" and can stay a part of the group.

Magnum, which incorporates Ben & Jerry’s, Cornetto and Partitions, is about to formally break up from shopper group proprietor Unilever and float in November.

Unilever acquired the enterprise in 2000 however has been at loggerheads with Ben & Jerry’s founders repeatedly in recent times, notably in relation to political and social points.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/09/14/fa3b247cb2822fa47d8b7c73719dfb9fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU3NTA5Njc3-2.71897890.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/09/14/fa3b247cb2822fa47d8b7c73719dfb9fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU3NTA5Njc3-2.71897890.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/09/14/fa3b247cb2822fa47d8b7c73719dfb9fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU3NTA5Njc3-2.71897890.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="The Magnum Ice Cream Company is expected to float in November (Michael Cockerham/Unilever/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

The Magnum Ice Cream Firm is anticipated to drift in November (Michael Cockerham/Unilever/PA) The founders pressured that the model was based with a mission for social good and reached an settlement with Unilever to ensure Ben & Jerry’s autonomy, together with an impartial board.

Disputes between the founders and Unilever included a high-profile incident in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s determined to not promote ice cream in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

Unilever responded by promoting the model within the area to its Israeli licensee.

Ben & Jerry’s additionally claimed final yr that Unilever had urged the model to cease public criticism of Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Mr Cohen and Mr Greenfield mentioned within the letter: “As The Magnum Ice Cream Firm stakes form, we really feel compelled to talk out – as people, fairly than Ben & Jerry’s workers – as we imagine that commitments made to us, our workers and our clients are being eroded.

“The safeguards Unilever guarantees within the acquisition settlement are being undermined.

“Choices are being made by the company mother or father about Ben & Jerry’s activism and voice, pushed by brief time period political expediency fairly than an understanding of the significance of the model’s values to the lovers and purchasers of its ice cream.

“We now not imagine Ben & Jerry’s can thrive as a part of a conglomerate that fails to assist its founding mission, and which is decreasing the corporate’s worth by undercutting one of many essential the reason why clients love and assist the model.”

A spokeswoman for Magnum mentioned: “Ben & Jerry’s is a proud a part of The Magnum Ice Cream Firm and isn't on the market.

“We stay dedicated to Ben & Jerry’s distinctive three-part mission – product, financial and social – and sit up for constructing on its success as an iconic, much-loved enterprise.”

It got here as Unilever mentioned it expects gross sales to develop by between 3% and 5% a yr from 2026 on the Magnum-led ice cream spin-off forward of its deliberate IPO.

The enterprise could have a major itemizing in Amsterdam, in addition to secondary listings in London and New York.

In a presentation to traders, Magnum set out a sequence of monetary targets amid efforts to stipulate its technique as a standalone enterprise away from shopper big Unilever.

The London-listed shopper group, which additionally owns Marmite and Dove, will retain a 20% stake however expects to scale back this over time.

Magnum, which would be the world’s largest pure-play ice cream enterprise, additionally mentioned it expects to safe round 500 million euros (£433 million) of price financial savings within the medium time period.