In a bold move, Ben Cohen — co-founder of the iconic ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s — is launching his own Palestine-themed watermelon sorbet after claiming that parent company Unilever blocked the flavor under the official Ben & Jerry’s label.
Cohen says the flavor is intended to call for “permanent peace in Palestine” and uses watermelon as a symbol, since the fruit’s green, white, red and black hues echo the Palestinian flag.
According to Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s independent board had approved a version of the flavor earlier, but Unilever and its ice cream unit Magnum prevented the rollout.
Rather than dropping the idea, Cohen is moving forward through his own brand, Ben’s Best, inviting fans to submit ideas for ingredients and pint design.
This is only the latest chapter in a long-running rift between the founders and Unilever, which began icing the brand’s protests over Israel-Palestine issues back in 2021.
The story raises questions about corporate governance, brand activism and how much freedom founders retain once their business is absorbed by a global conglomerate.
