Ben & Jerry's Foundation to Suspend Operations Amid Magnum Dispute

The Ben & Jerry's Foundation announced it will suspend operations by the end of 2026 unless it secures a favorable court ruling. The decision follows a series of actions by its parent company, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which cut the foundation's funding in April 2025 and ordered staff to vacate their South Burlington offices by July 17, 2026.

The conflict stems from a December 2025 audit backed by Unilever that identified deficiencies in the foundation's financial controls and governance. While Magnum asserts that the suspension is due to trustees ignoring these audit findings, foundation leaders and co-founder Ben Cohen describe the charges as trumped-up attempts to destroy the brand's progressive social values.

The dispute is currently being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ben & Jerry's alleges that Magnum overreached its authority by interfering with the brand's political views and purging independent board members. In response, Cohen has launched a "Free Ben & Jerry's" campaign to urge the sale of the brand to socially aligned investors. Magnum maintains that it remains committed to funding a grant-giving foundation, provided appropriate controls are established.