Why did Ben and Jerry sell their business?

How will progressives "take over" if businesses that are socially responsible and wildly successful inevitably allow companies like Unilever to seize their operations?

The "right" likes to say the "left" cannot succeed in business. Is it because the "right" tends to buy all the successful businesses and the "left", like most human beings, cannot resist exchanging long-term influence for short-term gold?

It does not bode well for social and economic progress.

Forward!

Right! Tillamook! There's nothing like independent-farm-fresh high fructose corn syrup, artifical flavor, xanthan, guar, and carob bean gums, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose gum, mono- and diglycerides, polysorbate 80, and carrageenan. (quoted from the French Vanilla ingredients posted on their website)

I think I'll keep making my own.

Pippin

It may be time to consider a limited venture into food products by municipalities.  Granted in cities like Burbank and Glendale California we have the resources to do an effective job in producing quality food products,as long as we focus on local needs and tastes and can do a substantiable development.  It is worth consideration.  But smaller municipalities in Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Vermont, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wiscousin, and other states with strong municipal roots may want to consider such action in conjunction with their local farm organizations.

BTW, Wonder Bread shut down in Glendale today.  It may be a sign of the times.  They blame the union, but they are big enough to overcome union issues, hell their bread sell for less than their competition.

Any ideas of good food products you might consider be developed by your local city?

Ben & Jerry's was purchased by Unilever back in 2000 and it has not changed too much since. It has better distribution and a bigger sales force. There are more scoop shops that scoop their unbelievable flavors than ever.

Unilever has for the most part had a hands off approach to Ben & Jerry's. Ben and Jerry are still a part of the company, although without any specific responsibility. They visit Scoop Shops, vocalize on political and social issues and are frequently invited to do media appearances.

Oh yeah, the ice cream has been Bovine Growth Hormone FREE for years and now uses cage free eggs as well. Viva la Cherry Garcia!

..Czar

YUM! not.

Isn't it insane?! All this crap is added so that they can preserve it, make the ice crystals smaller, give it "mouthfeel" (some gums are used to replace fat), and all sorts of other wonderful qualities...

And part of the reason for all this is so that it can be made in one location and then shipped all over the country without changing.

We (consumers) control the marketplace ---- so, if we make informed choices, buy local, buy organic, buy from companies that take steps toward sustainability then we can make a difference!

Cory

probably for the same reason that Kiehls sold out to Loreal, Powerbar sold to Nestle, Glaceau (Vitamin Water) sold to Pepsi (I think it was) --- because the almighty dollar speaks --- loudly...  And because these companies put the pressure on.  This is one of the main modes for growth --- aquisitions and mergers --- yuck!  So, these small companies come out with a great product and then the big ones buy it, put their R&D teams to work to "optimize" it (in other words screw it up with loads of additives and cheap ingredients).

Even Whole Foods has to aquire (Wild Oats) to grow enough to keep the stock market happy --- ugghhh...

Cory

that's a great resource -- thank you!
maybe I'll include it in my next Yogi Food Karma Alert...

Cory

Yeah, in this case it seems that the parent company may be savvy enough to keep a good thing good. There is hope!  ;-)

Cory

Marketing success --- white bread sales are in the crapper -- and Twinkies aren't flying off the shelves (and thanks to the wonders of preservatives they'll last on the shelf for years to come!)...

Cory

I just wanted to chime in here regarding the Ben & Jerry's change of ownership - take a look at the ingredients list - it now includes water!  You can't make good ice cream with water.  Things like this happen when soap guys takeover making food.