Ben & Jerry's sold to Unilever in 2000 primarily because Unilever promised to protect and maintain Ben & Jerry's unique social mission and brand integrity. The founders and the board agreed to the $326 million buyout after a year-long negotiation with Unilever and other interested buyers. A key reason for choosing Unilever was their commitment to allowing Ben & Jerry's to operate as an autonomous subsidiary with its own independent board focused on the social mission. Unilever had also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, which aligned with Ben & Jerry's values at the time. Financially, the deal gave Ben & Jerry's founders significant returns and opened up overseas opportunities for the brand. However, over time, there have been concerns from the founders and others that the social mission has been compromised under Unilever's ownership.