Updated at 2:59 p.m.
Unilever announced Tuesday that it would spin off all of its ice cream brands into a new company — including Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic Vermont ice cream maker.
The newly created ice cream division would include brands like Magnum and Wall’s along with Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever said in a statement. The company said it would most likely spin off the division through a demerger.
Sean Greenwood, a spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s, said via email that the company has been a part of Unilever for 24 years and this represents “a significant change for us.”
He added that regardless of ownership structure, Ben & Jerry’s remains committed to its three-part mission: to make the best ice cream, to advance social causes and to be a successful for-profit business.
Unilever also announced on Tuesday a separate decision to slash 7,500 positions, mainly office-based jobs, to “enhance productivity.”
VTDigger confirmed last week that Ben & Jerry’s was cutting seven positions in its South Burlington-based corporate headquarters, according to a spokesperson for the company. It is not immediately clear if those cuts were connected to the recent layoff announcement.
The consumer goods conglomerate announced the changes a month after its latest quarterly report showed a 6% decline in volume for its ice cream division. The company blamed inflation affecting its ice cream production more than other sectors, which in turn increased prices and led consumers to seek lower-cost ice cream options.
Ben & Jerry’s has also made headlines for its social justice mission, at times coming into conflict with its parent company. Ben & Jerry’s raised objections to Unilever selling its ice cream in the West Bank in 2021, forcing Unilever to sell its business in the West Bank and Israel to another company.
