Update, 12/15: Unilever announced today that its Ben & Jerry subsidiary will end its litigation against the parent company in an effort to block the sale of the Israeli business to Avi Zinger’s Ben & Jerry’s Israel.
The company did not provide details of how the litigation was resolved, but Avi Zinger confirmed that Unilever’s prior deal with him remains unchanged and in force and he will operate Ben & Jerry’s Israel throughout the country without restrictions, using Hebrew and/or Arabic trademarks. His original franchise agreement had been set to expire on 12/31/22.
Update, 9/6: Ben and Jerry’s will file an amended complaint in yet another effort to stop its parent company from selling the rights to its business in Israel to an Israeli company.
Update, 8/22: Ben & Jerry’s has lost in its bid for a preliminary injunction to block the sale of Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel in order to avoid selling Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream throughout Israel. The case may still continue to trial, but it seems unlikely at this point that the sale will be undone.
Update, 7/5: Ben & Jerry’s is now suing Unilever to block the sale of Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel in order to avoid selling Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream throughout Israel.
Unilever maintains that it has the right to sell off the Israeli business and that the deal is closed.
Ben & Jerry’s board consists of 7 members, including 2 from Unilever. All 5 non-Unilever reps voted to sue Unilever in an attempt to block the deal.
Will you boycott Ben & Jerry’s?
Update, 6/30: Ben & Jerry’s has Tweeted their unhappiness with their parent company’s decision to find a workaround to sell Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream throughout Israel.
Ironically, their supporters are now calling for a boycott of Unilever, which would include boycotting Ben & Jerry’s everywhere outside of Israel…
We are aware of the Unilever announcement. While our parent company has taken this decision, we do not agree with it.
(🧵1/3)
— Ben & Jerry’s (@benandjerrys) June 29, 2022
We continue to believe it is inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s values for our ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
(🧵3/3)
— Ben & Jerry’s (@benandjerrys) June 29, 2022
Originally posted on 6/29:
I’m currently touring with my family in the Golan Heights, where I heard the incredible news that Unilever has come to a settlement to sell its Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel to Ben & Jerry’s Israel, which is owned by Avi Zinger.
I originally wrote about the story here and followed up with this absurd clip from the ice cream company’s founders.
2 weeks ago, we were asked to promote Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream promotions for Father’s Day. I responded that we don’t promote anti-Semitic Ice Cream.
Ben & Jerry’s Israel won’t be able to use the company’s English logo in the future, but will be able to sell ice cream under the Ben & Jerry’s name in Hebrew or Arabic throughout Israel.
Unilever also put out a statement speaking out against anti-Semitism and BDS while touting their 4 factories and investments in Israel.
“Unilever rejects completely and repudiates unequivocally any form of discrimination or intolerance. Antisemitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.”
Unilever was stuck between a rock and a hard place with them ceding partial control to Ben & Jerry’s, so kudos to them for coming up with a creative solution to sell off their interests to Ben & Jerry’s Israel.
They note that they maintain financial responsibility for the brand and it’s within their rights to sell off a chunk of it, even if Ben and Jerry’s itself is not supportive of continuing to sell their Ice Cream throughout Israel.
Sure, this was done due to lawsuits and states divesting their Unilever holdings, but in the end, it’s great to see that Ben & Jerry’s will continue to be sold throughout Israel, including in Judea and Samaria.
VICTORY: Ben and Jerry's will continue to be sold in all of Israel. A victory for common sense and coexistence and a defeat for discriminatory boycott campaign. I just spoke with Avi Zinger, Israeli CEO of the company who fought the boycott to the end. pic.twitter.com/FZgVLH2QzH
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) June 29, 2022
Does this move redeem Unilever? If you avoided buying their products since the original announcement, will you still still avoid buying their products or Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream outside of Israel? Or is this enough for partial or full forgiveness?
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136 Comments On "[Update: Ben & Jerry’s Will Stop Trying To Block Sale Of Its Israeli Business!] WOW! Unilever Will Allow Ben & Jerry’s To Continue To Be Sold Throughout Israel, Rejects BDS"
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I waiting for your post titled, Wow! Moshiach is finally here!
Amen!
Sorry but this brand is tainted
They fixed the issue.
*sigh* people just love to hate nowadays…
Ben and Jerry’s still very much supports BDS so no, the issue is not fixed. What is fixed is the boycott of other Unilever brands.
I agree. No more Ben & Jerry’s. Maybe in Israel, but certainly not in the US.
No reason to avoid it in Israel, it no longer has any connection to the parent company.
Other than Kashrus reasons (for those that don’t accept the standards of current Kashrus certifiers), ever since they announced their intention not to renew the contract, it was actually a reason to purchase it only in Israel, to show support for the licensee not bowing to their demands.
the kashrus standard is exellent acttually one of the three best in israel, if not for politic reason or a old ‘חרם’ from the eidah.
This is your opinion?
They have a very good Mehadrin supervision.
I don’t get it. If unilever was truly anti BDS couldn’t they just insist on selling Ben & Jerry’s as they did before the boycott rather than selling their business interests in it?
No, they couldn’t. It is in their contract with Ben & Jerry’s that the original board, still run by the original Ben and Jerry themselves, that the original board still maintains control over things related to their social mission. So, once they decided to boycott, Unilever had to agree, until they came up with this solution.
Thanks for the explanation!
To the contrary, would support it when in Israel, as it would be nice to show support
Sounds like Ben & Jerry’s is still pro-BDS and supports anti-Semitism, so I’d still not eat their ice cream in the US. But I applaud WOW’s move and am happy for a Israeli company that was bringing jobs and building bridges between Jews and Arabs.
That’s my read of it.
Unilever seems good to me, but Ben and Jerry’s outside of Israel is still very pro-BDS and probably furious about this settlement as well.
Not only are they pro-BDS, they are anti family values and pro “progressive” perversion.
And while on the topic, are KIND bars worthy of being banned due to their owner’s (a private company) use of funds to promote left-wing “Palestinian” agendas?
agreed, don’t buy them
they are too sticky for me anyway.
Who owns kind bars?
Daniel Lubetsky, a Jew, outspoken supporter of Jews and Jewish causes
Wouldn’t that be just like BDS? Boycotting someone because of their unrelated views, values or actions?
We make them at home. Way better than the bought ones. And cheaper.
Recipes are at Google
@EG – You have no idea what you’re talking about; the founder of KIND Bars, Daniel Lubetzky, is pro-peace & anti-BDS. He might not be your partisan cup of tea, but he’s anything but left-wing.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/the-empathetic-change-maker-470234
We will not be buying any Ben and Jerry products. We might feel differently if we lived in Israel, but not here in USA.
I have not bought or eaten any Ben & Jerry’s since the boycott. But now that is a wholly Israeli-owned company, I will support it.
(And of course I won’t go near it outside of Israel)
Agree
Like @Mike & @Matisyahu above, I don’t understand.
Ben & Jerry’s are tainted. The parent company is now being forced to sell ice cream to the Jews? Thanks but no thanks.
The ONLY people I really feel bad for is Zinger and co.
They should sue for monetary damages, dump Ben & Jerry’s and find a different product.
Then again, (religious) Jews buy german cars, so I guess what’s a pint of ice cream after all?
Buying German cars is different than buying from a company that’s currently causing harm to Jews.
Dan your power of speech beats their power of hate
HaKol Kol Yaakov
keep it up
So “Ben & Jerry’s” is still anti-semitic.
Only “בן אנד ג’ריס” is now acceptable.
It’s not anti-sematic to be against the government of Israel. Just like being against the government of Iran, doesn’t mean I hate Iranians.
totally agreed
It is antisemitic to single Israel out consistently
Exactly. There are many bad actors in the world, but if you only single out Israel, there is a bigger problem.
Look at the criticism Saudi is getting for their new LIV golf tour. Look at Russia being sanctioned. Look at how Sudan was sanctioned over Darfur. Look at how China is criticized for the treatment of Uighurs. Look at sanctions on Iran. Look at US sanctions on Cuba. Israel is not singled out. The US government gives Israel full support regardless of who is president. Israel is being criticized over its human rights abuses by private actors looking to change Israel’s behavior through non-violent, peaceful means. In this case it was even being done by two Jewish people. For you to keep calling it anti-Semitism to criticize a government cheapens the word anti-Semitism and takes away attention from the real bigots and anti-semites which are right-wing nationalists in the US. We should think of the big picture and be open to valid criticism of Israel to better its standing in the world.
What are you smoking? Maybe you have eaten too much Ben and Jerry’s! I never heard of a BDS movement against any of the countries you mentioned? Human rights abuses in Israel? Peaceful protestors? You are simply naive… I wonder what you thought of the BLM protests last year…. Sheesh!
I’m pointing out that BDS is a non-violent protest no matter what you think of it. Many Jewish groups and people support it. It’s not anti-Semitic. Was the BDS movement against South Africa anti-white? And nobody is leading a BDS movement against Iran or Cuba or whoever because governments are taking action against them through sanctions already. Why are you bringing up BLM protests? It has nothing to do with this and maybe shows you just don’t like anyone protesting any government.
BDS is 100% anti-Semitic. There is no other way to define it. It is totally indefensible.
BDS movement has made it clear through the organization’s action and words that they view Israel and Jews as the same thing. They’ve often tried to harm Jews who have no connection to Israel. Their leaders have gone even further in expressing their hate of Jews, regardless of their connection to Israel.
That’s just not factually true. At all. Which is why my original point still stands. You can’t just say BDS is anti-Semitic without proof because you don’t like any criticism of Israel. If you do that you make meaningless the word anti-Semitism and who does that hurt in the end?
Read the words of the BDS founders, they’re very explicit. Or look at the actions and how BDS always fights against peaceful activities that being Jews and Arabs together.
Plenty of evidence if you want to run a Google search.
I’m curious why you are such a supporter of the BDS activism.
I’m a קנאי & I’m anti- Israel at least as much as they are, but the fact is that all anti – Israel non Jews are also anti – Semitic.
lol. Maybe this issue of being critical of the Israeli government by two Jewish dues is maybe a singular important issue for them. I care about a lot of issues but only a few get actual effort toward (beside some donation). Israel is not the only boycott movement recipient ever. Can we agree that Israel is doing things that is 100% okay to be critical of?
Self hating Jew, not a new thing.
If a person of color decides to support the Klan, they are no less of a racist.
Or maybe they just have problems with some of the policies of the Israeli government? If you say criticizing Israel is the same as criticizing Jews that is antisemtic. That means all Jews must agree with a government or hate themselves. Remember, the disagreements among Jews in Israel on many issues is great. How can we believe that a government represents an entire religion, including the Jews who do not live in the country? Did Sharon hate Israel becasue he withdrew from Gaza? These are policy differences. It would serve Israel better to deal with criticism from inside and outside the country rather than call everyone an antisemite who criticizes it. That way when the real antisemites speak and act everybody knows it’s real. Like the tree of life massacre or in Texas this year. If you think any and all criticism of Israel is antisemtic from Jews and non-Jews than you are more nationalist than religious.
Disagreeing is not the boycotting, divesting and sanctioning
I think you are being dishonest. Many people disagree with hot US policy issues like economy, covid vaccination and others but no one suggested boycotting the US over these.
BDS is not legitimate criticism of a government it is the intention to stop Jewish sovereignty in Israel. Definitely antisemitic.
True. I don’t like politics in some countries but the regular people are good.
Won’t buy them ever. Sooty too late
What about in Israel?
IMHO, this comes down to “who profits from each pint of Ben and Jerry’s that I buy”. If the profits go to Unilever, I am OK with it.
If parts of the sale go to Ben and Jerry themselves and to their wicked Foundation (see this: https://nypost.com/2021/08/28/head-of-ben-jerrys-board-accused-of-alleged-self-dealing/), then no way do I plan on buying it.
If it’s in Israel, it won’t.
Outside of Israel, it will.
Nope, won’t buy Ben and Jerry’s. Still supports BDS and still supports far left agendas in the US. Most companies lean left nowadays but this is on a different level.
Eh. The only reason they’re bringing it back is because they want the sales, and they’re hoping it will bring them good PR.
Will this mean the kosher food aisles at non-Israeli stores will now have Israeli brand Ben & Jerry Ice Cream for sale like they have skittles and pesach hunts ketchup
Just a comment/observation
At least one macholet here in the Old City has been selling B&J again since late last week
The suggestion that they were antisemitic is childish nonsense, that is itself antisemitic by implying that Israel = ‘the Jews’.
It does in their eyes, sorry to break it to you. Don’t dig your head in the sand.
The company’s founders are well known to be Jewish Americans held in high esteem by the company’s management, employees, partners and others. What is absurd is to say that this ice cream is an “anti-Semite ice cream” or that the company is antisemitic.
This kind of disparaging attack on B&J ice cream may remind some of the absurdity of Putin saying he needs to take over Ukraine to de-Nazify a country whose head of state and national wartime leader is well known as a Jewish Ukrainian.
A Jew can be a antisemite.
Here’s an interested idea –
Maybe we can import the Ben and Jerry’s from Israel to u.s.
That would really be a slap in the face 😉
Not going to happen. There are agreements in place that make that not going to happen and b&j would sue to ensure any company that does do this will be sued
Definitely completely redeems Unilever who had no say in the original boycott. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, however, is still the same evil as always.
Will continue to avoid ben and jerry
Not enough.
I never had an issue with Unilever. They own and sell a ton of products in Israel. This will be a case study in the future about how much autonomy to give an individual brand.
Actually, this opens up a unique opportunity maybe (not sure if the sale allows this)
But, if it does, you might expect to see Israeli Ben& Jerry ice cream imported to the US from Israel – maybe even opening a factory, to sell Kosher, non-BDS-supporting… Could be good business. Jews love their B&J if it’s morally ok
Maybe, but you don’t know what’s in the agreement
Not going to happen. They cannot sell out of the territory they are in. B&j could rightfully sue if that product is sold here.
Never bought BHJ iced-cream, neither in US nor Isreal. But it has nothing to do with BDS or antisematisem. I don’t buy it because cholov akum is metamtem halev vehamoiach.
שמעון , there are flavors in Israel that are halav yisrael.
Possible, but this is chalav Stam, not chalav akum.
What you call chalv stam is also metamtem halev vehamoach. That’s why the posek who issued that heter recommends not to rely on it.
For some reason the Feinsteins say that’s baloney and Reb Reuvain and Reb Dovids own wives are cholov stam as do almost all the grandkids and great grandkids. Learn the facts. You don’t want to eat it that’s great but don’t make things up.
Hmm the way you reference Reb Moshe Feinstein ZT’L, the Poseik Hador in this casual manner as “the Poseik” without naming him is horrendous chutzpah. One with such chutzpah should better eat the chalav stam. Enjoy it heartily, you already are metumtam.
+1000. I had a great great grandchild of R Moshe in daycare in my house. I came home one day to find a Walmart brand milk in my fridge without any Hechsher. I was told by a prominent Posek that the family of R Moshe knows that R Moshe held very strongly of this Psak and did not feel his own family should be Machmir.
Keeping your svara aside, B&J in Israel is Cholov Yisroel.
What hechsher does it have?
I thought r’ Moshe says it’s not metamtem.
The only place I will buy B&J is in Israel.
I don’t understand why Unilever can’t tell Ben & Jerry’s how to run the company?
LOL to that absurd clip!!!
That could’ve been taken straight out of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode!!!
I have another reason to come to the Holy Land (joking). Ben and Jerry’s in Israel.
Outside of Israel….forgetaboutit
We stopped eating Ben and Jerry’s because of this. Can’t say i don’t miss it, but I love Hashem more than ice cream
I have not bought Hellmans mayonnaise,Qtips, Vaseline, and any other Unlike we product since that first announcement. I would now and believe that Unilever has redeemed itself. American Ben & Jerry’s on the other hand will never come into my house again.
Can someone please explain why this is some great victory? My understanding of the situation is that Ben and Jerry and friends are a bunch of antisemitic losers. They said they don’t want to sell in various places, and their parent company, Unilever, did nothing. Then Unilever got boycotted by a number of cities and states, and they magically decide to stand against BDS. And how do they do that? By essentially dumping that line of products. So there’s now a non-Unilever non-Ben and Jerry’s ice cream being sold in Israel under the name בן אנד ג’ריס, and those two companies are still not selling their product (anywhere) in Israel, as it’s no longer their product.
What am I missing here?
Häagen-Dazs is much better anyway, and has always supported Israel.
they are not addressing the situation which is – a wholly owned subsidiary of theirs tried to boycott another country as the current ceo doesn’t like their politics. going to another basketball court doesn’t mean the bully learned to behave . as long as they accept such people in their corporate climate they aren’t a company i look to support
Kof-K should stop certifying Ben & Jerry’s in America. Antisemites aren’t kosher. The Cholev Yisrael version from Israel should be imported to Kosher stores in America instead. Win. Win!
+1000 great comment
+10000
If it’s cholov yisroel, it will be $12 for a quarter of ice cream
Unilever did not reject BDS, they just found a way to make money while not denouncing it and getting rid of the Ben and Jerry’s line. So now there is a “Ben and Jerry’s ” in Israel, but it’s not Ben and Jerry’s. Ben and Jerry still continue to bash Israel and now they have their cake to eat with their ice cream. I will continue to NOT buy Unilever products. When they get rid of their agreement with the two gentlemen from Vermont, I will go back. But not a day before then
Read their statement. They did denounce it.
Around Memorial Day, I bought into Unilever stock. It has a nice enough dividend if I don’t divest of it very soon.
Unilever’s share price has been in a downward trajectory since they tried to boycott Israel; of course not the complete cause, but certainly part of the reason the company is worth ~20% less than before.
I found long along that if you’re going to boycott every company and product that doesn’t agree with your politics, religion, values, etc. there is truly little in the world that you can buy. Let’s start with gasoline for your automobile or even your automobile itself.
Not really. Theres a reason why Ben and Jerry’s is news.
Ice cream companies should be about making an selling good ice cream, not some sort of politics. Unilever should just cut their losses and sell off (or spin off) Ben and Jerrys and let them play their political games by themselves.
After their initial Israel stance, I’d never buy Ben and Jerry’s again no matter what position they take in the future.
By your own logic that, “Ice cream companies should be about making an selling good ice cream, not some sort of politics,” then you shouldn’t boycott them. They make good ice cream, why mix in politics?
Agreed
I love Ben & Jerry’s and I’m glad they know apartheid when they see it.
For a few moments last week I felt that I can end my family’s boycott of Ben & Jerry’s. Apparently, there’s even more reason to boycott than before.
Unfortunately, I never got around to boycotting Unilever products in general, as I would have liked to now say that I am now lifting my boycott (except against B&J, of course).
Wow to go out of their way for this
Bigots unite!
I obviously don’t buy B&J as it doesn’t fit my Kashrus standards. But they were weight of a boycott even before BDS due to their support for “progressive” issues.
I do ban KIND bars due to the owner’s (a Jew) support of “Palestinian” causes.
No one should eat this garbage by garbage people
New Flavor: Ipecac Syrup Supreme with Loads of Nuts
I don’t really care if a company is anti-Semitic to be honest. I buy what I want; I’m not going to let politics stop me from choosing what to spend my money on.
Anyway, they’re all anti-semites – just they haven’t made it public. Unless I know that giving them my business is going to actually impact Jews, and I mean things like funding a physical attack, I don’t really care.
We should be supporting Unilever for their bold decision. I just can’t decide whether or not to buy B&J in the US, because I dont know if the former owners still get royalties.
Buying B&J in the US will certainly support B&J and their anti-Semitic board’s missions.
Buying B&J in Israel no longer will do that.
In what way will buying in the US support B&J or their board?
Do B&J and their board get royalties?
I thought the brand was fully-owned by Unilever, with the B&J retaining a board that has no financial interest or benefit from sales, just paid an annual salary to advise Unilever on policy.
7.5% of B&J profits are put into their foundation for the board to spend as they see fit.
I will NEVER buy Ben and Jerry’s. We have also stopped buying Hellman’s MAyonaise, a unilever product.
I think Unilever is in the clear at this point, but curious to hear other opinions on that.
I will never buy Ben & Jerry’s again outside of Israel.
I will go back to buying Unilever products.
All should follow this approach.
Ben & Jerry’s needs to stop doing any production on Native Indian land that they are occupying and using in the US.
I will never stop buying ben and jerry’s love them and the mission that they are pursuing we as jews boycott companies all the time now we are going to get mad when someone else does it. how can we achieve peace if we constantly allow some the unconscionable things the govt over there is doing to the palestinians
What are you talking about? If you were ever attacked as a child in Isreal by a Palestinian you would know what is going on!
Yeh, I still will not eat their antisemitic ice cream! I hope all their ice cream melts n dsnt freeze and they stop getting business. I used to love their ice cream but no more service from me and many others!!
WOKE to another level; sad that these are our Jewish brethren
No they are not our Jewish brethren. They are the Eruv Rav and have no place in the Jewish people. I stopped eating their ice cream years ago because I don’t support Reshaim.
to me this redeems unilever. but still wont buy b&J’s.
I wouldn’t eat their ice cream if they gave it away for free or paid me. Their antisemitism never ends.
After returning of a 2-month trip to Israel, I was surprised how popular Ben & Jerry’s is in Israel, while we in America try to boycott them
You obviously have not been following the story carefully, it makes sense to buy it in Israel because it is owned by non discriminatory B&J company, as opposed to in America.
While I never actually bought any B&J ice cream, I support the boycott on them (outside Israel). However, I agree that this redeems Unilever. I don’t care what their intentions are or how much they mean it, I would only support a boycott on a company with actively antisemitic policies, or those that have a real egregious history of wrongdoing, such as many German automakers.
I hope the shareholders realize how much money this garbage woke company is wasting just to make a point with their BDS garbage. This is so typical of the woke left. They will put hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars to fight the parent company’s decision to sell their over-priced sugary ice cream in Israel but they don’t put a penny of that money towards actual human rights violations in countries that they don’t even bother criticizing. This is basically going to keep happening in society if people don’t take a stand against it.
+1
I wish someone would explain why unilever doesnt clean house and fire all the bds bozos at b and j??
They can’t, B&J has an independent board.
I don’t know how anyone here arrived at the conclusion that B&J are antisemitic. That isn’t what this was about. Just because they object to sale in Israel/Occupied territory does not mean they are antisemitic in their views.
Pretty simple.
If they objected to being sold in other countries or states that have policies they didn’t agree with, that would be one thing.
But if the only country in the world that you want to boycott is Israel, then it’s ipso facto showing that something else is at play. Anyone can be the judge of what that is.
Recently received an email from B&J asking why I have not opened their (regular) emails in a very long time.
I wrote back — because of their anti-Semitic policies.
I’m pleased that progress is made.
I boycotted Pepsi in the USA when they decided to go with the Arab nations, rather that selling in Israel….. but now drink it in Israel and the US, as I prefer it over its competitors.