Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. (B): Scoope...

Werhane, Patricia ...

Case

Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. (B): Scooped Up! What Lies Ahead?

Werhane, Patricia H.; Sack, Robert J.; Mead, Jenny

E-0226 | Published December 28, 2001 | 5 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Case B describes the aftermath of Ben & Jerry's being acquired by Unilever. While there was public sadness and dismay over the socially responsible company appearing to "sell out," Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield tried to put it in the best possible light: "Under this new arrangement, Ben and Jerry's will be independently operated, our values will continue and we hope our efforts to make positive change will even expand. Unilever has contractually agreed to increasing socially beneficial activities as a percentage of sales every year. Ben and Jerry's will be doing more good than it does today."

To have students learn about and discuss stakeholder management, decision-making in the framework of one’s values, and the rights and obligations that all stakeholders have/do not have.