M&As: Dairy’s biggest deals in 2025
From Lactalis’ major takeover Down Under to co-operative mergers in Europe, here are the deals that defined 2025
Unilever
Unilever sets new date for ice cream demerger
A new date has been announced for The Magnum Ice Cream Company’s demerger and share consolidation
Ben & Jerry’s pro-Gaza ice cream blocked by directors
If Ben & Jerry’s can’t make a ‘Peace for Palestine’ flavoured ice cream, co-founder Ben Cohen will make it himself
What Unilever can learn from Froneri’s success in ice cream
The Magnum Ice Cream Company’s biggest global rival has gone from strength to strength in the face of market challenges – here’s how the Nestlé co-owned company drives growth
Hellmann’s and Knorr show food still has life at Unilever
Despite major moves away from categories like plant-based meat and ice cream, food remains central to Unilever’s business
Unilever ice cream demerger delayed
With just weeks remaining before its planned spin-off, the demerger of The Magnum Ice Cream Company has been postponed
How AI will drive innovation at The Magnum Ice Cream Company
Unilever’s ice cream spin-out is supercharging its ice cream formulations in the US with the help of AI. NotCo founder Matias Muchnick tells us what it’s all about
Sustainable September
Unilever and PepsiCo among companies in new regenerative agriculture initiative
The initiative will centre around farmer-facing organisations and focus on upscaling
‘Heartbroken’ Ben & Jerry’s founder steps down over brand’s ‘silencing’
Jerry Greenfield leaves the company he co-founded half a century ago after claiming Unilever has ‘silenced’ the brand’s social mission and independence
Ben & Jerry’s has been ‘silenced’ by Unilever - and wants a divorce
As Unilever prepares to spin off its ice cream business, one of its biggest brands wants out
New flavours won’t cut it: Inside Magnum Co’s innovation playbook
Unilever’s soon-to-be-demerged business is committed to growing the ice cream market, and innovation will play a major role
Unilever’s Magnum Co. launches first new brand - and it’s not ice cream
Unilever’s soon-to-be demerged business wants to diversify beyond traditional ice cream formats
Magnum CEO appointed: Who is Peter ter Kulve?
Unilever has appointed a new CEO for its demerged ice-cream business
Unilever ice cream growth strong ahead of demerger
The results are positive for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which will be spun off mid-November
Unilever names Ben & Jerry’s new CEO and responds to hiring controversy
Industry veteran Jochanan Senf will lead the brand globally as Unilever hit back at rumors over his selection
Unilever makes major step towards ice cream demerger
The Magnum Ice Cream Company is now in operation
Unilever slams Ben & Jerry’s lawsuit
Unilever wants to throw out B&J’s explosive case, which includes allegations of censorship and firing its CEO
Unilever’s emerging markets performance ‘has to improve’ as Q1 disappoints
A slowdown in LATAM and other emerging markets impacted the group’s turnover in Q1 2025 - but Ice Cream delivered growth, again
Unilever ‘attempting to remove’ Ben & Jerry’s CEO
The Phish Food maker claims Dave Stever is being pushed out for green-lighting the brand’s political posts – and that a company restructure was ‘imminent’
‘We need to leave that behind’: Unilever CEO on ice cream demerger
Ice Cream was ‘a clear outlier’ in Unilever’s portfolio, according to the new chief executive who is seeking to accelerate the company’s growth plans
Unilever boss Hein Schumacher to step down after 18 months
Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher will leave the business at the end of May
Ben & Jerry’s claims Unilever muzzled it over Trump
The maker of Half Baked and Cookie Dough claims the CPG major blocked it from speaking out - again
Unilever India’s demerger with Wall’s ‘maximises potential’ for ice cream growth
Unilever’s India business entity Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) says its planned demerger with Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd (KWIL) ice cream business via a demerger, hoping to maximise the latter’s potential and growth in the country.
Ben & Jerry's, Unilever in fresh legal clash
The ice cream maker and its parent are back in the courtroom over censorship allegations.
Arla, Kraft Heinz, Unilever grilled by UK parliamentary committee over ‘greedflation, profiteering’
The bosses of major food companies were pressed about increasing their profits as consumers struggled with food affordability. Dairy and agriculture industry reps were also questioned about the impact of inflation on farmers.
Unilever to spin off ice cream division as it looks to become ‘simpler, more focused company’
The consumer goods giant has admitted that its ice cream division requires ‘a very different operating model’ and a separation would allow the company to focus on growth.
‘The same indulgent taste’: Unilever expands into animal-free dairy with Breyers Lactose-Free Chocolate ice cream
The company had been exploring a potential entry into the precision fermentation space for at least two years.
‘Our goal is to see a bigger shift across our industry’: Unilever bids to solve ice cream's last-mile problem by sharing reformulation patents
The CPG giant is sharing 12 reformulation patents with the wider ice cream manufacturing industry as it looks to lead the way in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from the last mile of the supply chain.
Judge rules against Ben & Jerry’s in Israel licensing case
Ben & Jerry’s dispute with Unilever over a potential licensing deal in Israel and the West Bank ended Monday with a blow for the maker of Phish Food ice cream.
Unilever partners with Flytrex for drone ice cream deliveries
Unilever’s first ever digital storefront, The Ice Cream Shop, plans to take to the skies in partnership with Flytrex for its latest foray in ultrafast on-demand delivery.
‘Dairy can become an integral part of a food system for the future:’ Ben & Jerry’s on its ‘bold commitment’ to target emissions
Regenerative practices and new technology could be a ‘game changer’ for dairy farming, according to the Unilever-owned ice cream brand, which is looking to bring greenhouse gas emissions at 15 of its dairy farms to half the industry average by the end of...
Unilever pilots Robomart automated on-demand delivery to 'revolutionize' the ice cream truck
Unilever will launch a US ice cream delivery pilot in partnership with food tech group Robomart, which describes itself as the ‘world’s first store hailing service’.
Blue Ocean Barns' red seaweed is cutting methane emissions for US dairy brands
A red seaweed supplement is set to ‘dramatically reduce’ dairy methane emissions for brands including Ben & Jerry’s, Clover Sonoma and Straus Family Creamery.
Unilever to test warmer ice cream freezers to help tackle emissions
Unilever is launching two pilots to trial warmer ice cream freezer cabinets with the aim of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by around 20 to 30% per freezer, whilst ensuring the same ice cream quality and consumer experience.
Updated: What are dairy companies saying – and doing – on the war in Ukraine?
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent sanctions imposed upon Russia, doing business with the world’s largest country is becoming increasingly complicated.
Unilever switches Carte D’Or ice cream to paper tubs
Unilever has switched its range of Carte D’Or ice cream in the UK from plastic packs to responsibly sourced, recyclable paper tubs and lids in a move that will save more than 900 tons of virgin plastic each year.
January: What’s new in the dairy aisles?
It's a bumper month for new launches in the dairy aisles in January, in part due to the influence of many plant-based launches for Veganuary.
Job losses as Unilever set to reorganize business structure
Magnum producer Unilever has announced changes to its organizational model, which will impact more than 1,500 jobs globally.
January: What’s new in plant based?
While we generally wait until the end of the month, we've taken out some of the plant-based product Veganuary launches in January for our special newsletter. There are many plant-based launches in the alternative meat, seafood and dairy aisles, so this...
Unilever partners with Holobiome to seek mental wellbeing ingredients
Unilever has partnered with gut microbiome company Holobiome to identify food and drink ingredients that could have a positive impact on mental wellbeing by targeting the gut-brain axis.
FAIRR report says alternative proteins on the rise
A five-year investor engagement with 25 leading global food retailers and manufacturers on protein transition finds evidence of clear leadership and reports the number of firms adopting formal targets to grow their alternative protein offerings is on...
World’s first ice cream factory to join WEF Lighthouse Network
Unilever’s ice cream factory in TaiCang, China, has joined the Lighthouse Network, the World Economic Forum’s community of manufacturing sites.
Who has grabbed top spot in Rabobank’s Global Dairy Top 20?
Rabobank has published its eagerly-awaited annual Global Dairy Top 20 report for 2021.
Dairy Dialog podcast 146: Arla, Cheer Pack, Tamarack Biotics
This week, we have conversations with Stephanie Nish, EHS coordinator at Arla’s Lockerbie plant; Al Madonna, vice president of marketing at Cheer Pack; and Bob Comstock, CEO of Tamarack Biotics.
Ben & Jerry’s Israel boycott row intensifies
An Ecuadorian supermarket chain is the latest company to pull Unilever ice cream from its shelves, as it accuses Unilever of boycotting Israel.
New products in the dairy aisles: March
It has been another bumper month for new launches in the dairy and dairy alternatives sectors.
New US ice cream launches from Unilever
Unilever is launching a variety of new frozen treats in the US with its Breyers, Good Humor, Klondike, Magnum Ice Cream, Popsicle and Talenti brands.
Unilever targets €1bn sales from dairy and meat alternatives
Unilever said it is setting a new annual global sales target of €1bn ($1.18bn) from plant-based dairy and meat alternatives, within the next five to seven years.
Movement in Rabobank’s annual Global Dairy Top 20 - who tops the list?
Rabobank has published its report on the global top 20 dairy companies.
Magnum launches tubs made with recycled plastic
UK ice cream brand Magnum has launched its ice cream tubs range in the UK using packaging made with recycled plastic. Following a successful pilot last year, Magnum is the first ice cream brand to use recycled polypropylene plastic in packaging.