Ben & Jerry's co-founder wants the company to be independent once more

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — As Ben & Jerry’s celebrated its annual Free Cone Day on Tuesday, one of the brand’s co-founders was focused on a different sort of freedom.

On the corner where his first ice cream shop opened in 1978 — and where the first Free Cone Day was held a year later — Ben Cohen called on Ben & Jerry’s owner The Magnum Ice Cream Co. to sell the brand. Cohen said Magnum is stifling Ben & Jerry's social activism and he wants to see the brand sold to a group of socially-minded investors.

“Magnum prevented Ben & Jerry’s from putting out a post supporting Black History Month," Cohen said. "(Ben & Jerry's) wanted to come out with a post calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Magnum prevented that. We wanted to support the student protesters. Magnum wouldn’t allow that.”

“The longer this goes on, the more they’re destroying the brand equity,” Cohen added.

Ben & Jerry's other half, Jerry Greenfield, resigned from the company in September 2025, calling it a “painful” decision after nearly 50 years with the brand and bemoaning in his resignation letter the disappearance of its independence. Cohen is still a paid employee of the company, but said he has no authority or responsibilities.

Cohen believes Ben & Jerry's is now worth between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. He wouldn't name any of the investors who are interested in buying the brand, but said they're eager to talk to Magnum, which is based in Amsterdam.

However, Magnum said Tuesday that Ben & Jerry's is not for sale.

“Ben & Jerry’s is a proud and thriving part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company," Magnum said in a statement. “We remain fully committed to the Ben & Jerry’s model and its three-part mission — product, economic and social.”

Tuesday's protest was Cohen’s latest action in a years-long campaign to make Ben & Jerry’s an independent company again. Here's the scoop on Ben & Jerry's evolution:

Unilever, a London conglomerate that also owns Dove soap and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000 for $326 million, or the equivalent of $625 million today. At the time, Cohen and his co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, said the partnership would help the progressive Vermont-based ice cream company expand its social mission globally. As part of the deal, Unilever agreed that Ben & Jerry’s independent board would be free to pursue its social mission, including longstanding support for causes like racial justice, campaign finance reform and fair trade.

In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop serving Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem. The move was condemned by Israel, and Unilever distanced itself from it. The following year, Unilever sold its Israeli business to a local company that said it would sell Ben & Jerry’s throughout Israel and the West Bank. Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever in 2024, accusing it of silencing its statements in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war. Ben & Jerry’s said Unilever also blocked social media posts that were critical of President Donald Trump and threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s independent board.

Unilever announced the spinoff of its ice cream business — including Ben & Jerry’s — in March 2024. It was part of a larger strategy at Unilever, which wants to focus more on health and wellness products and less on food. Magnum, which became an independent company in July 2025, is one of the world’s largest ice cream companies. It also owns brands like Breyers and Cornetto.

Bettina Guevara holds her free serving of ice cream outside the Ben and Jerry's scoop shop on Free Cone Day in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

A dog named Pearl eats a serving of free ice cream outside the Ben and Jerry's scoop shop on Free Cone Day in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Ben and Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen speaks during an interview about his Free the Cone Day campaign, asking supporters to help restore the company's independence and protect its social mission on Free Cone Day in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

People eat ice cream outside the Ben and Jerry's scoop shop on Free Cone Day on Free Cone Day in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Bettina Guevara poses for a photo with her free serving of ice cream outside the Ben and Jerry's scoop shop on Free Cone Day in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Amanda Swinhart)

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced this week that he's leaving Congress and the crowded contest for California governor following sexual assault allegations, which he denies, and a swift exodus of his supporters.

Days ago, the 45-year-old congressman was among a group of leading Democrats in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cannot seek a third term at the helm of the nation's most populous state.

Swalwell's campaign unraveled within about 48 hours after the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. Later Friday, CNN reported that other women accused him of various forms of sexual misconduct.

He suspended his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday, saying in a social media post, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire financier Tom Steyer, a 2020 presidential candidate, are among other top Democrats seeking to snatch up Swalwell’s former backers as the primary nears with no clear front-runner.

Swalwell said Monday he would leave Congress on his own terms as lawmakers pushed for a bipartisan vote to expel him.

Here's what is known about the allegations against Swalwell and the possible political implications.

The Chronicle interviewed a woman who alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, when he was her boss, and again in 2024. She said she was too intoxicated to consent to sex in both cases and did not go to police at the time because she was afraid she would not be believed.

CNN reported allegations that appeared to come from the same woman. Neither outlet named her, and her lawyer declined to comment.

CNN also spoke to several other women who accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate messages and nude photos.

A California woman then held a news conference on Tuesday, identifying herself and saying she was sexually assaulted by Swalwell in 2018 and now plans to make a report to law enforcement. She said she believes Swalwell drugged her before raping her.

Swalwell has maintained that the allegations are false. He said it would be unfair to his constituents if he remained in Congress while he’s distracted from his duties.

Elias Debaie, an attorney for Swalwell, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the new allegations.

Swalwell's exit from the race presents an opening for his former rivals to pick up support ahead of the June 2 primary.

Democrats Steyer and Porter, and two leading Republicans, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump, are among more than 50 candidates vying for just two spots on the November ballot.

Under California's primary system, only the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

There are still seven established Democrats in the primary. Swalwell’s departure narrows the field of top contenders, but it’s too late for his name to be removed from the ballot.

Newsom has acknowledged fears within the party that the large field of candidates could split the Democratic vote into fractions small enough to open a path for a Republican to hold the top office in one of the nation’s most solidly Democratic states. It's still possible — though a long shot — that the two leading Republicans could lock out Democrats in November.

Swalwell, a seven-term lawmaker, did not say when he would leave the U.S. House. Once he does, the governor must call a special election in Swalwell's district “within 14 calendar days of the occurrence of the vacancy,” according to California election law.

His announcement came as the House Ethics Committee said it had begun investigating whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee. The future of the investigation is uncertain, as the committee often stops investigating when lawmakers resign.

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas also announced Monday that he would retire from Congress after bipartisan calls to expel him. Several lawmakers had suggested expelling both Swalwell and Gonzales simultaneously, in an even trade-off for the parties.

Gonzales had already said he would not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.

Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was first elected to Congress in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco.

He launched a presidential bid in April 2019 but dropped out after just a few months.

Swalwell served as a House manager in Trump’s second impeachment trial in early 2021. He also played a role in investigating ties between Trump associates and Russian officials as a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Lonna Drewes reacts during a news conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to detail allegations of sexual misconduct by Rep. Eric Swalwell, after Swalwell exited the California governor's race and said he'll resign his seat in Congress. The AP typically does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they identify themselves publicly. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The entrance to the office of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)