Who are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Conopco, Inc. and Unilever PLC involving Ben Jerrys?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
opean Cluster from July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021.
ITEM 3 LITIGATION
PENDING LITIGATION
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc., Class I Directors of Ben & Jerry's Independent Board v. Conopco, Inc. and Unilever PLC, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Case No.: 1.24-cv-08641-PKC**.**
On November 13, 2024, Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. and the Class I Directors of the Ben & Jerry's independent board of directors (the "Plaintiffs"), filed a complaint in the name of Ben & Jerry's alleging that Conopco, Inc. and Unilever PLC (together, the "Defendants") breached the terms of the 2000 acquisition agreement as well as a mutual Settlement Agreement by and between Plaintiffs and Defendants (the "Settlement Agreement") in connection with previous litigation by and between Plaintiffs and Defendants. Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint on January 27, 2025 (the "First Amended Complaint") adding new allegations and naming the independent directors as an additional plaintiff; Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint on April 4, 2025 (the "Second Amended Complaint"). Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss this complaint;
Source: Item 3 — LITIGATION (FDD pages 18–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, there is a pending lawsuit where Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. and the Class I Directors of Ben & Jerry's independent board of directors are the plaintiffs against Conopco, Inc. and Unilever PLC, who are the defendants. The complaint, initially filed on November 13, 2024, alleges that the defendants breached the terms of the 2000 acquisition agreement and a mutual Settlement Agreement.
The plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint on January 27, 2025, adding new allegations and naming the independent directors as additional plaintiffs. Subsequently, a Second Amended Complaint was filed on April 4, 2025. The defendants have responded by filing a motion to dismiss the complaint, and a ruling on this motion is anticipated to take several months.
This ongoing litigation could have implications for prospective Ben Jerrys franchisees. It's essential to monitor the outcome of this case, as it could potentially affect the brand's operations, financial stability, or relationship with its parent company, Unilever. Franchisees should stay informed about any updates or resolutions related to this lawsuit, as it may impact their investment and the overall business environment of their Ben Jerrys franchise.