Cornetto ice cream

Cornetto is one of the world's most recognizable ice cream brands, famous for its crunchy waffle cone lined with chocolate to prevent the pastry from getting soggy. The brand traces its roots back to 1959 in Naples, Italy, where Spica, an artisan ice cream maker, developed the patented chocolate-coating process.

In 1976, the brand was acquired by the multinational conglomerate Unilever. Since then, it has been marketed globally under various names within the 'Heartbrand' family, such as Algida in Italy, Wall's in the UK and Asia, and HB in Ireland.

While Cornetto was a cornerstone of Unilever’s refreshment portfolio for decades, in March 2024, Unilever announced a major strategic shift to spin off its entire ice cream division. By 2026, the brand is part of the newly formed independent entity, often referred to as 'The Magnum Ice Cream Company' or simply the Unilever Ice Cream spin-off, which is headquartered in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Manufacturing remains localized across numerous global facilities to ensure freshness and supply chain efficiency.