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Magnum: The Ice Cream That Conquered Adults and Now Trades on the Stock Market

The iconic Frigo brand, born 40 years ago, has become an independent company with a global presence and multi-million euro turnover.

Close-up of a Magnum ice cream bar covered in Belgian chocolate.
IA

Close-up of a Magnum ice cream bar covered in Belgian chocolate.

The Magnum ice cream brand, created 40 years ago to appeal to adults, has established itself as an independent, publicly traded company with global reach and annual revenues nearing 7.9 billion euros.

The Magnum ice cream, conceived approximately 40 years ago by the Danish company Frisko (a subsidiary of Unilever), has undergone a significant transformation since its inception. Designed to appeal to adult tastes with a simple yet innovative concept, the first Magnum, launched in 1989, featured high-quality vanilla and a thick layer of Belgian chocolate. Its immediate success led to the creation of its own company, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which was spun off from Unilever a year ago and is listed on the stock exchanges of New York, London, and Amsterdam.
In Spain, the brand, operating under the Frigo name, offers up to 40 different flavors and introduces 20 to 30 new innovations annually. According to Elías Santín, R&D and Regulation Director for the Spanish division, recipes are constantly reviewed and improved for raw materials, flavors, and production sustainability. Magnum's history also has ties to Barcelona, specifically the Poblenou neighborhood, where the historic Frigo factory was located from 1927 to 2008.
The Frigo brand, considered iconic in Spain, boasts over 100,000 freezers in the horeca channel (bars, restaurants, and beach bars), representing between 60,000 and 70,000 points of sale nationwide. This summer marks the return of the Frigurón, a tropical-flavored ice pop that was off the market for 30 years due to its coloring. After finding a healthy alternative, the company has relaunched it in Spain with plans for international export if well-received.
Furthermore, Frigo is collaborating with biscuit maker Artiach to launch the Sandwich Dinosaurus, which includes a collectible dinosaur figure. Other new offerings include the Solero Berries, with a red fruit sorbet, and the Volcanix, an ice cream featuring five layers of different flavors and textures.
The company is also focusing on pistachio, incorporating it into Magnum and Cornetto. Elías Santín highlights the 'snacking' and 'delivery' trends as consumption opportunities, adapting products like Magnum chocolates to new lifestyles and purchasing habits.

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