The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation has joined an ongoing lawsuit against its parent firm The Magnum Ice Cream Company after a court allowed the non-profit to participate in the case concerning contractual obligations and governance independence.
The dispute follows the spin-off of the ice cream business from Unilever in December 2025, after which Unilever retained a 19.9% stake in Magnum. Directors from the independent board of Ben & Jerry’s have challenged moves by the new parent company to appoint additional directors, alleging corporate overreach and interference with the brand’s autonomy.
The legal conflict dates back to 2024, when Ben & Jerry’s independent board filed a case in a U.S. District Court in New York, arguing that both Unilever and later Magnum had taken steps that could undermine the company’s social mission and governance structure.
The foundation said it decided to join the lawsuit after funding from the company was halted, calling the court’s decision to allow its participation a crucial step in defending its independence. According to Liz Bankowski, president of the foundation’s board of trustees, the case goes beyond contractual issues and raises questions about whether a corporation can withhold funding when prior commitments become inconvenient.
Magnum, however, said it remains committed to Ben & Jerry’s and denied any wrongdoing. The company stated that recent governance changes are consistent with the merger agreement and standard corporate practices across the organization.
Founded in 1985, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation receives contributions from the ice cream brand and supports non-profit organisations working on social justice, environmental protection, and community development initiatives.