Unilever

Unilever is under scrutiny over governance at Ben & Jerry’s. Co-founder Ben Cohen raised concerns about the selection of three new independent board directors and about plans to replace the company’s philanthropic foundation. That points to an ongoing tension between corporate oversight and the brand’s activist legacy, and that legacy still shapes the consumer and public profile of the business.

Strategically, Unilever is still being mentioned alongside other consumer staples leaders as a defensive, dividend-oriented name. Investors continue to see the sector as resilient in uncertain markets. Meanwhile, one of its brands, Dr. Squatch, is leaning on creator-led marketing and experiences instead of traditional advertising to reach Gen Z consumers, which reflects a wider shift toward engagement-driven brand building.

Signals from investors and consumers are mixed, though still constructive. The dividend-stock framing suggests continued interest in Unilever as a steady cash-generating business, while the Dr. Squatch campaign shows active experimentation in youth marketing. Ben & Jerry’s governance dispute could keep sentiment uneven, since it highlights how brand identity and corporate control remain closely tied at Unilever.