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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Dee-Ann Durbin and Amanda Swinhart

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

US Ben & Jerry's Protest Explainer - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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.

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