on Thursday that its litigation with the independent board of Ben & Jerry’s over the sale of its Israeli ice cream business has “been resolved”. The ending removes a potential headache for the new Unilever chief executive who will take over when current boss Alan Jope steps down next year.
The ice cream mess made for an odd corporate drama. Unilever bought the hipster brand in 2000 for $326 million, leaving Ben & Jerry’s board more independence than a typical subsidiary. When Ben & Jerry’s halted sales in the occupied West Bank because it said it was inconsistent with its values, it risked alienating Unilever customers. Jope then sold the Israeli business to its local licensee, Avi Zinger, for an undisclosed sum.
Far from solving the issue, the move sparked a legal battle with Ben & Jerry’s, which sought damages and demanded its trademarks be returned. The company also asked a judge to stop Zinger from selling the ice cream in the West Bank. With no details on the settlement, it’s difficult to say which side gave up more to resolve the situation.
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