Ben & Jerry’s

Abstract

Ben & Jerry’s, a company with an iconic social reputation, introduced a new concept called linked prosperity to the business world, which put corporate social responsibility at the core of the company values and underscored it with concrete actions. It was able to preserve and continue most of its mission even after being acquired by the multinational Unilever. This master thesis provides insights into the history of the company, the take-over by Unilever and the difficulties emerging from the acquisition. Through a case study format, students will be able to learn about the once clashing company cultures of the two firms and how the values of Ben & Jerry’s spread to Unilever and the business world.