Ben & Jerry’s loses bid to halt sales in West Bank

Ben & Jerry’s, a model of Unilever, is seen on show in a retailer in Manhattan, New York Metropolis, U.S., March 24, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) – A U.S. decide on Monday rejected Ben & Jerry’s try to cease its dad or mum Unilever Plc (ULVR.L)fromallowing its ice cream to be offered within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, which Ben & Jerry’s stated undermined its values.

U.S. District Decide Andrew Carter in Manhattan stated Ben & Jerry’s didn’t deserve an injunction to halt ice cream gross sales and advertising and marketing as a result of it didn’t present it will endure irreparable hurt, or that prospects can be confused.

Ben & Jerry’s sued Unilever on July 5, saying the sale of its Israeli enterprise to native licensee Avi Zinger violated the settlement below which Unilever purchased the Burlington, Vermont-based firm in 2000.

The sale got here almost a 12 months after Ben & Jerry’s determined to finish gross sales in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, saying it was “inconsistent” with the values and social mission it retained the best to advertise.

Unilever countered that Ben & Jerry’s had no energy to cease the sale of the Israeli enterprise, and the sale couldn’t be undone as a result of it had closed in late June.

The bizarre dispute has shone a highlight on Unilever’s aim of giving its greater than 400 manufacturers social missions and function

Carter rejected as “too speculative” the concept prospects can be confused if Zinger supplied new merchandise conveying a message that may battle with Ben & Jerry’s personal.

“Ben & Jerry’s has supplied no proof of such confusion or the affect of the alleged confusion,” Carter wrote.

The decide famous that merchandise offered within the West Financial institution would use Hebrew and Arabic logos, not English language logos.

Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Unilever’s manufacturers additionally embrace Dove cleaning soap, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Vaseline pores and skin lotion.

Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Enhancing by David Gregorio

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