The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V.

Is The Magnum Ice Cream Company publicly traded?
Yes, The Magnum Ice Cream Company N.V. is publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam, the London Stock Exchange, and the New York Stock Exchange under ticker MICC. Trading commenced on December 8, 2025, following the demerger from Unilever. Unilever retained a minority stake of less than 20%, which it plans to sell down over time. Major institutional shareholders include BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street.

Who owns The Magnum Ice Cream Company?
The Magnum Ice Cream Company is owned by its shareholders, primarily institutional investors and former Unilever shareholders who received TMICC shares through the demerger. Unilever retained a minority stake of less than 20%. The demerger was structured as an in-specie dividend, with one TMICC share issued for every five Unilever shares held. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake.

When was The Magnum Ice Cream Company founded?
The Magnum Ice Cream Company was founded on December 6, 2025, when Unilever completed the demerger of its ice cream division. The company's ice cream business, however, dates back to 1922, when Unilever acquired Wall's. The Magnum brand was launched in 1989. The company's history is tied to Unilever's ice cream division, which built one of the world's largest ice cream businesses over more than a century.

What brands does The Magnum Ice Cream Company own?
The Magnum Ice Cream Company owns Magnum, Ben and Jerry's, Wall's (also known as Ola, Langnese, Algida, and Kibon in different regions), Cornetto, Breyers, Good Humor, Calippo, Twister, and Solero. The company's portfolio spans premium, mainstream, and novelty ice cream segments. Magnum is the company's largest brand by revenue, generating approximately 2 billion euros annually.

What is The Magnum Ice Cream Company's annual revenue?
The Magnum Ice Cream Company reported FY2024 revenue of approximately 7.9 billion euros, based on the financial performance of Unilever's ice cream division prior to the demerger. In Q1 2026, the company reported revenue of 2.1 billion euros, up 3.2% organically. The company has guided for 3% to 5% organic growth over the medium term.

Why did Unilever demerge its ice cream division?
Unilever announced the demerger in March 2024 as part of a broader corporate restructuring under CEO Hein Schumacher. The ice cream division had been Unilever's slowest-growing segment, with organic growth of approximately 2% to 3% compared to 4% to 6% for the rest of the business. Unilever's management believed the ice cream business would perform better as an independent entity with dedicated focus and investment. The demerger was completed on December 6, 2025.

Who is the CEO of The Magnum Ice Cream Company?
Peter ter Kulve is the CEO of The Magnum Ice Cream Company. Ter Kulve previously served as president of Unilever's ice cream division from 2020 to 2025. He has led the transition from a Unilever division to an independent company and has emphasized the advantages of dedicated focus on the ice cream category. The board of directors is chaired by Ian Meakins.

The Magnum Ice Cream Company's history is tied to Unilever's ice cream division, which built one of the world's largest ice cream businesses over more than a century through acquisitions and organic growth.

Unilever entered the ice cream business through its acquisition of Wall's in 1922. Wall's was a UK-based sausage and ice cream company that had begun producing ice cream in 1920. The acquisition gave Unilever a foundation in the UK ice cream market, which it expanded over the following decades.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Unilever expanded its ice cream operations internationally, acquiring ice cream brands and building manufacturing facilities in continental Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The company developed regional brands including Algida in Italy, Langnese in Germany, and Kibon in Brazil.

The Magnum brand was launched in 1989 in Germany as a premium chocolate-covered ice cream bar. The brand was an immediate success and was rolled out globally in the 1990s. Magnum became Unilever's largest ice cream brand by revenue and was chosen as the namesake for the demerged company.

Ben and Jerry's was acquired in 2000 for $326 million. The acquisition was controversial because Ben and Jerry's, known for its social activism and progressive values, was being acquired by a large multinational corporation. Unilever agreed to preserve Ben and Jerry's independent board and social mission as part of the acquisition agreement.

Breyers was acquired in 1993, giving Unilever a presence in the US take-home ice cream market. Good Humor was acquired in 1961, establishing Unilever's novelty ice cream business in the United States.

In March 2024, Unilever announced plans to demerge its ice cream division as part of a broader corporate restructuring strategy under CEO Hein Schumacher. The decision was driven by Unilever's desire to simplify its portfolio and focus on higher-growth personal care and home care categories. The ice cream division had been Unilever's slowest-growing segment, with organic growth of approximately 2% to 3% compared to 4% to 6% for the rest of the business. Management believed the ice cream business would perform better as an independent entity with dedicated focus and investment.

The demerger was structured as an in-specie dividend to Unilever shareholders, with one TMICC share issued for every five Unilever shares held. The demerger was approved by Unilever shareholders in November 2025 and completed on December 6, 2025. Trading in TMICC shares commenced on December 8, 2025 on Euronext Amsterdam, the LSE, and the NYSE.

Unilever retained a minority stake of less than 20% in TMICC following the demerger. Unilever has stated that it plans to sell down this stake over time to support separation costs and capital flexibility.

On September 9, 2025, TMICC hosted its Capital Markets Day, presenting its strategy as a standalone company. The company projected 3% to 5% organic growth in existing businesses and anticipated generating nearly $600 million in savings through a 50% reduction in suppliers. The company also announced plans to invest in digital marketing, e-commerce capabilities, and product innovation.

In Q1 2026, TMICC reported its first standalone quarterly results. Revenue was 2.1 billion euros, up 3.2% organically. The company reaffirmed its medium-term guidance and announced a 200 million euro share buyback program.

TMICC inherits sustainability commitments from Unilever's ice cream division. The company has committed to several environmental and social goals.

On climate, the company has set a goal of achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039. As of 2025, the company reported that approximately 70% of its electricity came from renewable sources. The company has invested in energy-efficient manufacturing and cold chain logistics to reduce emissions.

On sustainable sourcing, the company has committed to sourcing 100% of its cocoa from sustainable sources by 2025. As of 2025, approximately 95% of cocoa was sourced from Rainforest Alliance certified farms. The company has also committed to sourcing 100% of its dairy from farms with improved animal welfare standards by 2030.

On packaging, the company has committed to making 100% of its plastic packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025. As of 2025, approximately 80% of packaging met this standard. The company has faced criticism from environmental groups for its use of single-use plastic in ice cream packaging, particularly for individual novelty products.

Ben and Jerry's has been a leader in social and environmental advocacy within the company. The brand has advocated for climate justice, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Ben and Jerry's has also been a leader in fair trade certification, with all of its flavors using fair trade ingredients where available.

The company has faced scrutiny over the nutritional content of its products. Ice cream is a high-calorie, high-sugar product, and some public health advocates have called for stricter regulation of marketing for such products, particularly marketing directed at children. TMICC has responded by introducing lower-calorie and lower-sugar variants across several brands.

TMICC has inherited several controversies from Unilever's ice cream division and has faced new challenges as an independent company.

The Ben and Jerry's brand has been a source of controversy for Unilever and now for TMICC. Ben and Jerry's independent board has taken positions on political issues that have drawn criticism. In 2023, Ben and Jerry's criticized the US government's military policies, leading to calls for boycotts from some consumers. In 2021, Ben and Jerry's announced it would stop selling ice cream in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, leading to a lawsuit from its Israeli licensee. The lawsuit was settled in 2024, with the Israeli licensee retaining the right to sell Ben and Jerry's products in Israel and the West Bank. This controversy has followed TMICC since the demerger.

The company has faced scrutiny over its marketing of ice cream to children. Several public health organizations have criticized the company for advertising novelty products like Twister and Calippo on children's television channels and social media platforms. The company has defended its marketing practices, stating that it complies with all applicable advertising standards and that its products are intended as occasional treats.

TMICC has faced environmental criticism over the carbon footprint of its cold chain distribution. Ice cream requires frozen storage and transportation, which is energy-intensive. The company has invested in more efficient refrigeration technology and has piloted the use of natural refrigerants in its freezer cabinets. However, environmental groups have argued that the company should do more to reduce the environmental impact of its cold chain.

In 2025, the company faced a lawsuit in the United States alleging that some of its products contained artificial flavors despite being marketed as natural. The lawsuit alleged that certain Magnum products contained artificial vanilla flavoring. The company denied the allegations and the case was ongoing as of 2026.

The company has also faced scrutiny over its supply chain labor practices. In 2024, a report by a human rights organization alleged that some dairy farms supplying the company in Southeast Asia used child labor. The company investigated the allegations and stated that it had terminated relationships with suppliers found to be in violation of its labor standards.