Ben Cohen Urges Boycott of $9.1 Billion Magnum to Force Ben & Jerry's Sale
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
Ben Cohen Urges Boycott of $9.1 Billion Magnum to Force Ben & Jerry's Sale
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 31
Summary
Ben Cohen has escalated his campaign by urging consumers to boycott Magnum brands including Breyers, Talenti, Yasso and Klondike to pressure the ice-cream group into selling Ben & Jerry’s.
The 75-year-old co-founder says Magnum and former parent Unilever stripped Ben & Jerry’s independence, muted its activism on Gaza and other causes, and are “destroying” a brand built on social mission.
Magnum says Ben & Jerry’s is not for sale and remains a thriving top-four brand, citing 3% organic sales growth in 2025, 9.2% second-quarter growth and €500 million invested in its social mission since 2000.
Cohen estimates Ben & Jerry’s could be worth $1 billion or more, but experts say forcing an $11 billion company to divest through a consumer boycott is unusual and unlikely to succeed.
The fight extends a years-long clash that began after Ben & Jerry’s 2021 stance on occupied Palestine, followed by a 2024 lawsuit, leadership turmoil and Cohen’s 2025 “Free Ben & Jerry’s” push.