Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 11
Ben Cohen Says 1978 Ben & Jerry's Brand Is Being Destroyed by Magnum Over Trump Criticism
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 11

Ben Cohen Says 1978 Ben & Jerry's Brand Is Being Destroyed by Magnum Over Trump Criticism

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 11

Summary

  • Ben Cohen said Magnum Ice Cream Company is "in the process of destroying" Ben & Jerry's by blocking the brand from criticizing President Donald Trump.
  • The dispute centers on Ben & Jerry's ability to speak on social and political issues, a stance Cohen said has long been central to the brand's identity.
  • Cohen, who co-founded Ben & Jerry's with Jerry Greenfield in 1978, said silencing that voice is hypocritical and could damage the Cherry Garcia maker's future, possibly irreversibly.

Insights

When a brand's identity is activism, can a new owner silence its voice without destroying its value?
Can a founder's grassroots campaign force a corporate giant to sell back an iconic, mission-driven brand?