Ben & Jerry’s Foundation to Close Amid Parent Company Dispute
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation is slated to close by year’s end due to its parent company, Magnum Ice Cream Co., cutting off funding and evicting its staff. This action leaves $600,000 in annual grants for Vermont organizations and the brand’s 40-year progressive mission contingent on a judge’s ruling in an ongoing legal battle. The core of the dispute centers on allegations that Magnum overreached its control, interfering with Ben & Jerry’s governance and political stances, while Magnum cites audit findings of governance and financial control issues as justification for its actions.
John Q. Hosedrinker