Stories

Fri, 14 Aug 2026

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 Protein or pickled garlic? What's new in ice cream

There's a constant battle in ice cream to come up with new flavours and to keep costs down.

* The Magnum Ice Cream Company's R&D centre in Bedford, UK, is where new recipes are created and existing ones improved.
* A unique product that has gained attention is a glow-in-the-dark ice lolly, which contains vitamin B2 that glows under UV light.
* The company faces intense competition from other ice cream giants, including Häagen-Dazs owner Froneri and Baskin-Robbins.
* Magnum is battling rising costs due to price volatility caused by war in Ukraine, COVID-19, the cost of living crisis, and energy prices.
* To combat this, the company has been developing more efficient refrigeration systems, including fridges with cameras that use AI to track inventory and optimize restocking. Asia: The Hub of Ice Cream Innovation
* Asia is leading the way in ice cream innovation, particularly in Japan, Korea, and China.
* Magnum's chief research officer cites Asian markets as a key driver of new ideas and trends.
* Unique flavors such as protein-packed ice cream are gaining popularity, with some products containing up to 20g of protein per serving. The Future of Ice Cream
* Researchers at Magnum are using robotic help to perfect the texture of their chocolate bars.
* AI is being used to collect data on ice cream and optimize production processes.
* The company's focus on innovation and customer experience will continue to drive growth in a competitive market.