In what’s being hailed as a major victory against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement worldwide, Unilever, the parent company of Vermont-based ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry’s, announced that it has agreed to sell the rights to manufacture and distribute the brand in Israel and the West Bank to its Israeli licensee, Avi Zinger, owner of American Quality Products Ltd.
The move, announced in a news release Wednesday, ends a nearly year-long standoff between the company and nearly all parts of the pro-Israel community.
According to the release, the arrangement means Zinger’s company, which had previously held the manufacturing and distribution license for the ice cream in Israel and sued Unilever for breach of contract, will gain full ownership of its current license.
This would allow the brand to continue being manufactured and sold in Israel and the West Bank under its Hebrew and Arabic name.
“Unilever has used the opportunity of the past year to listen to perspectives on this complex and sensitive matter and believes this is the best outcome for Ben & Jerry’s in Israel. The review included extensive consultation over several months, including with the Israeli government,” Unilever said in a statement.
It added, “Unilever rejects completely and repudiates unequivocally any form of discrimination or intolerance. Anti-Semitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.”
The company, which is known as the maker of Dove soap products and other everyday household items, said that it was proud of its business ventures in Israel, which employ approximately 2,000 people from different backgrounds and maintain four manufacturing facilities. JNS
Consuming chalav stam is worse than owning a smartphone and will definitely have a detrimental effect on your children’s shidduchim.
Ben & Jerry’s in Israel is actually the only place you can find Ben & Jerry’s ice cream that’s Cholov Yisrael, because its produced locally from Jewish milk farms.
And wearing a white shirt makes it Mutter to make such a remark !!!
Yes. We are living in a generation where the chitzonius is the ikar. Just play the game and you’ll be alright. Step even slightly out of line and your name will be dragged thru the mud.
Don’t worry. They make great non-dairy ice-cream, too.
Why buy from them, though? They don’t want to sell to us, don’t let their products be sold at all in Israel. They will suffer more than the consumers. (Maybe avi Zinger could start his own brand)