Cornetto ice cream cone

Cornetto is a world-renowned frozen dessert consisting of a crunchy waffle cone coated on the inside with chocolate to prevent sogginess. The brand originated in Naples, Italy, in 1959, when ice cream manufacturers Spica and Mario Faccenda invented the patented chocolate insulation process. This innovation solved a long-standing technical challenge in the ice cream industry and cemented the product's place as a cultural icon.

In 1976, the brand was acquired by the British-Dutch multinational Unilever, which integrated Cornetto into its global Heartbrand family. Depending on the region, it is marketed under various names such as Wall’s, Algida, Frigo, or Kwality Wall's. Typically, Cornetto is manufactured locally across dozens of global facilities to maintain freshness and reduce distribution costs.

In 2024, Unilever announced a major strategic shift to spin off its entire ice cream division into a standalone business called The Magnum Ice Cream Company. This transition, expected to be completed by 2025, marks a new chapter for the brand as it moves toward independent ownership outside of the broader Unilever consumer goods portfolio.