Unilever says he did not look for the CEO of Ben & Jerry, asks the demand to be dismissed

Of Jonathan Stempel

New York (Reuters) -Unilever rejected on Friday the statement he tried to expel ex -Ben & Jerry’s executive director Dave Stever, to support the progressive social activism of his company, saying that he gave him a greater role and more salary, but he chose to resign.

In a judicial presentation, Unilever also requested the removal of Ben & Jerry’s demand to try to stop his alleged efforts to dismantle his advice and end his activism, which has included protest of war in Gaza and try to criticize the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Unilever called the demand for a vehicle for Ben & Jerry President Anuradha Mittal to denigrate it, while the ice cream maker pursued a carefully pro-palestine “anti-Israeli stance that caused Unilever to lose investors and see his reputation.

Shahmeer Halepota, a Ben & Jerry lawyer, called Unilever’s “revisionism” a “fine sale attempt to save his face in the context of his threats, professional retaliation and a ban on criticizing Trump administration’s policies.”

Unilever said that Stever, who started working at Ben & Jerry in 1988, voluntarily resigned on March 31, although he was offered an increase in wages and a “leading role in the largest world ice cream business”, that Unilever is spinning.

He accused Mittal of using the press to convey confidential occupation debates and to make false accusations to promote his agenda, instead of working with a good faith unile.

Ben & Jerry has said that Unilever’s efforts to silence their activism violated an agreement that companies signed in 2000, when Unilever, in London, bought the Cherry Garcia manufacturer based in Vermont.

Earlier this week, Unilever said that his Ben & Jerry’s spinoff, Breyers, Magnum and other ice creams was underway, with the business that operated autonomously on July 1 and was reported separately in the fourth quarter.

He also said that Ben & Jerry was not on sale.

Unilever simplifies a portfolio that dozens of other brands include Dove, Hellmann, Knorr, Surf and Vaseline.

The case is Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc against Unilever et al, United States District Court, Southern New York District, no. 24-08641.

(Jonathan Sumpel’s report in New York; Cynthia Osterman edition)