Magnum (ice cream) facts for kids
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| Owner | Unilever |
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| Introduced | 1989 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Tagline | True to pleasure |
Magnum is a very popular brand of ice cream. It was first created in Denmark by a company called Frisko. Frisko is part of a bigger company named Unilever, which is from the United Kingdom.
Magnum ice creams are sold in many countries around the world. They come in different forms like ice cream bars on a stick, tubs, and small bites. In Greece, the name "Magnum" is used by a different company, Nestlé. So, Unilever's ice cream there is called Magic instead.
Contents
The Story of Magnum Ice Cream
How Magnum Started
The idea for Magnum ice cream came from Mogens Vigh-Larsen in the late 1980s. He worked for Frisko, an ice cream maker in Aarhus, Denmark. Production of Magnum ice cream began in the autumn of 1988.
The very first Magnum, now called Magnum Classic, was a thick bar of vanilla ice cream. It was covered in a special chocolate coating. This chocolate had to be developed to stay good even at very cold temperatures. The original Magnum weighed 86 grams.
The factory in Aarhus where Magnum was first made has now been turned into apartments and shops. The Frisko brand is still used for ice cream in Denmark.
New Magnum Treats Over Time
Magnum started selling ice cream cones in 1994. Later, in 2002, they also introduced an ice cream sandwich.
There's a fun story that the actor Roger Moore, famous for playing James Bond, claimed he came up with the idea for Magnum. However, the company Wall's says they don't know anything about this. They call it a "brilliant story."
Interestingly, the name "Magnum" for a chocolate-covered ice cream on a stick is actually much older. A photo from January 1960 shows a refreshment stand selling a "Magnum" with a strawberry-flavored shell.
Changes at Unilever
In March 2024, Unilever announced a big change. They decided to sell off their ice cream brands, including Magnum. This move is part of a plan to make Unilever a simpler company. This sale is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Different Kinds of Magnum
New Flavors and Sizes
Since 1992, Magnum has added many new flavors. Some of these include Almond, Double Chocolate, and White chocolate. In 2002, they even made a frozen yogurt version with raspberry swirl and milk chocolate.
They also introduced "Moments," which are small, bite-sized ice creams. These had centers like caramel, chocolate, or hazelnut. Later, smaller "mini" Magnums were launched, along with "crunchy" ones that had almonds.
Magnum also created special limited edition series. One was called the "7 Deadly Sins" series, with flavors named after the seven deadly sins. Another series was named after the five senses: Aroma, Touch, Sound, Taste, and Sight.
Special Editions in Australia
In 2003, in Australia and New Zealand, Magnum released a special series called "The Sixties Nine." These ice creams had fun names related to the 1960s, like "John Lemon" and "Wood Choc." If you collected nine sticks, you could get a free Magnum T-shirt! One flavor, "ChocWork Orange," was so popular that it was sold as "Chocolate Orange" Magnum even after the rest of the series stopped.
Recent Magnum Creations
In 2008, new Magnum types came out in the UK. One was Mayan Mystica, a chocolate ice cream with cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey flavors.
More recently, in 2020, Magnum launched Rose Ruby and Salted Caramel flavors. These come in tubs with a chocolate layer on the outside that you can crack. In August 2024, new flavors like Lemon Cheese and Pecan Nut were introduced in Singapore.
Magnum in Advertisements
Famous Faces for Magnum
Many famous people have appeared in Magnum advertisements. Actress Eva Longoria was a face for Magnum in 2008. Josh Holloway, known from the TV show Lost, was the first male spokesperson for Magnum in Turkey. Actors Benicio del Toro and Caroline Correa also starred in a TV commercial for Magnum Gold.
Art and History with Magnum
In 2021, Magnum celebrated the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death. They launched a new limited edition of three ice creams. Each was inspired by a part of Dante's famous book, the Divine Comedy. To mark this, Magnum also helped commission a painting called Il Bacio di Dante e Beatrice (The Kiss of Dante and Beatrice).
Magnum Around the World
Global Reach of Magnum
In 2009, Magnum Mini Moments were launched. These small treats came in milk, white, and dark chocolate, with different flavors like almond and truffle.
In China, the Magnum name is used, but there are fewer varieties. In 2011, Magnum ice cream was launched in the United States and Canada. It came with six varieties, including Double Caramel, Classic, and Almond.
In March 2012, Malaysia introduced a Choco-Cappuccino flavor. In April 2013, Magnum ice cream was launched in India by Hindustan Unilever. It is sold there under the brand name Kwality Wall's (ice cream).
In 2014, the Philippines opened a special "make-your-own" Magnum dessert bar called Magnum Manila. Here, you could create your own custom Magnum ice cream.
Vegan Options
In 2018, Magnum introduced its first vegan ice creams. These plant-based options came in two flavors: Magnum Vegan Classic and Magnum Vegan Almond. They were first released in Finland, Sweden, and the UK.
Images for kids
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A classic Magnum ice cream bar.
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The logo for Magnum ice cream.
See also
In Spanish: Magnum (helado) para niños
