Ben & Jerry’s chief executive has called on businesses to take a more active role in defending democratic participation, arguing that companies cannot separate their commercial interests from the health of the communities and institutions around them.
In a statement setting out the ice-cream maker’s position, the chief executive said the company had a responsibility to help people engage with democracy, particularly at a time when trust in political decision-making is under strain. The argument places corporate involvement in elections and civic campaigns alongside the more familiar concerns of sales, investment and employment.
The company’s position is that economic success cannot be judged solely by the value returned through business activity. It says companies also create value through their relationships with the communities in which they operate. That approach, described by Ben & Jerry’s as “Linked Prosperity”, rests on the idea that businesses rely on stable societies, while societies rely on firms to contribute responsibly to public life.
“No business thrives where democracy doesn’t.”
The warning is significant for the wider economy because democratic stability is not an abstract concern for employers or workers. Businesses depend on predictable rules, functioning institutions and public confidence. Where people feel excluded from decisions, or doubt that their votes will be recognised, the consequences can extend beyond politics to the environment in which companies hire, invest and serve customers.
A long-running campaign
Ben & Jerry’s has linked its brand to voting and participation campaigns for several years. Its earlier initiatives included support for voting rights in North Carolina and backing for a Florida campaign connected with the restoration of voting rights for people with previous felony convictions.
| Year or initiative | Focus identified by Ben & Jerry’s |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Empower Mint campaign supporting voting rights in North Carolina |
| 2018 | Support for Florida’s Amendment 4 campaign |
| More recently | Black voter participation and practical voter information |
More recent projects, named Change Is Brewing and Churn Out the Vote, have focused on Black voter participation and practical information for voters. The company says it has worked with community organisations and campaigners with specialist knowledge, rather than presenting itself as an authority on issues that are rooted in local experience.
Business responsibility and commercial risk
That distinction matters. Corporate political campaigning can attract attention, but it can also expose companies to criticism from customers, investors and employees who do not share the same views. Ben & Jerry’s nevertheless argues that remaining silent is not a neutral position when freedom of expression, voting rights and access to decision-making are perceived to be under pressure.
The company’s chief executive said businesses should use their reach and resources to support groups working at grassroots level. The approach is presented not as a substitute for public institutions, but as a contribution to them. Its stated aim is to help communities participate, rather than to claim that a company can resolve political divisions on its own.
For workers and households, the debate has practical implications. Stable institutions help shape the rules governing employment, consumer protection and investment, while political uncertainty can make businesses more cautious about expansion and hiring. The statement does not provide economic forecasts or financial results, but it makes a broader case: corporate prosperity depends on conditions that companies do not control and cannot safely take for granted.
Ben & Jerry’s has therefore cast democratic participation as part of the business environment, not a separate social concern. Its position will not settle the argument over how far companies should enter political debates. It does, however, underline the growing tension facing corporate leaders: they are expected to demonstrate values publicly, while also managing the commercial risks that come when those values become part of the brand.
- Ben & Jerry’s says businesses depend on strong communities and reliable democratic institutions.
- The company has supported voting-related campaigns since 2016.
- Its recent initiatives have focused on Black voter participation and voter information.
