Unilever Sells Its Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Business In Israel To Distributor

Following persistent controversy over its actions in Israel and the West Bank, Unilever has sold its Ben & Jerry's business in Israel to its local distributor, Jordan Valinsky reported for CNN Business.

Photo Insert: The Vermont-based ice cream company, which has been conducting business in Israel since 1987, has come under scrutiny in recent years as regional tensions have risen.

Unilever announced the sale to American Quality Products (AQP), which distributes Ben & Jerry's in Israel, for an undisclosed sum on Wednesday. Ben & Jerry's will now be sold in Israel and the West Bank under the Hebrew and Arabic names under AQP ownership.

The transaction brings to an end a long ordeal that had enraged ice cream enthusiasts on both sides of the Israel-Palestine issue.

The Vermont-based ice cream company, which has been conducting business in Israel since 1987, has come under scrutiny in recent years as regional tensions have risen.

Critics chastised the company for doing business in Israel, particularly in West Bank settlements, which are illegal under international law, claiming it contradicts Ben & Jerry's liberal reputation.

In 2015, Ben & Jerry's stated on its website that it was "keenly aware of how complex the local market can be," and that it believed it could impact positive change by retaining a presence in the region.

But, in July 2021, Ben & Jerry's changed its mind, claiming it had heard and respected the concerns of its fans and partners, and decided to stop creating ice cream in Israel – and stop selling in the West Bank entirely.

Ben & Jerry's informed AQP this summer that its contract with the company would not be renewed when it ends at the end of 2022. Following that, the company's ice cream would be sold in Israel "through a different arrangement."

However, that decision sparked a new round of controversy: some claimed that Ben & Jerry's was joining the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) claims is aimed at delegitimizing Israel's right to statehood and has some antisemitic roots. The corporation denies any association with BDS.

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