Unilever integrates ice cream business into U.S./Canadian operations

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. Unilever announced Thursday that it is integrating its North American Ice Cream Business into the company’s existing U.S. and Canadian operating units. The move is considered to be the next step in the evolution in the company’s One Unilever agenda by forming one operating company per geography and maximizing go-to-market opportunities.

As a result of the integration, Unilever will close its Ice Cream Business Green Bay, Wis., and Oakville, Ont., offices and relocate to the company’s U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and to its Canadian Headquarters in Toronto. While the move affects about 275 employees in Greenbay and Oakville, those at the ice cream manufacturing plants will not affected and Ben & Jerry’s will continue to operate out of Vermont.

“Our decision to integrate this team into Unilever’s US and Canadian operations will further strengthen the business’ competitiveness by leveraging the power and scale of Unilever’s large U.S. and Canadian organizations,” said Michael Polk, president of Unilever Americas.