Shurat HaDin, an Israeli NGO, has sought to take over Ben & Jerry’s trademark in West Bank settlements. This will permit it to make and sell ice-cream there under the famous brand.
https://www.sulc.edu/news/4472 Shurat HaDin claimed that this could be because the global Ben & Jerry’s as well as its parent company Unilever have announced plans for a boycott of Israeli policies.
Shurat HaDin’s President Nitsana Darash-Leitner has written to Unilever (a British company that has owned Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont since 2000) noting, “The Shurat HaDin Law Center now has registered an entity for business with the Israeli corporate register known as Judea and Samaria’s Ben & Jerry’s.”
Darshan Leitner stated that “we plan to adopt Ben and Jerry’s name to coincide with the Vermont company’s current ice-cream line and add new flavors and products.”
Unilever was informed that it has lost the rights to the Ben and Jerrys label in this territory. nitsana darshan leitner However, the boycott won’t start until 2023, as the current contract with the local producer of icecream will expire in 2023.
Avi Zinger, who is the owner of the Israel franchise, made it clear that he does not plan to quit the Green Line in regards to the sale of ice cream.
Shurat haDin has written Unilever that the company would continue to fight for the Ben & Jerry trademarks, rights, and name in the area.
According to her the sale will be limited to areas where Ben & Jerry’s has withdrawn. nitsana darshan leitner The company’s promise to sell to Israel’s “Occupied Palestinian Territory”, doesn’t mean that the new Ben & Jerry’s cannot be sold in these areas.
nitsana darshan leitner aviel darshan leitner Darshan Leitner stated that due to bureaucratic as well as technical problems the sales of ice cream would not begin until after the Israeli franchise agreement is over.