This investment is the latest in a series of site upgrades around the world and forms part of The Magnum Ice Cream Company’s €350-380 million supply chain transformation programme.
The news also follows Unilever revealing plans to complete the demerger of its ice cream business by the end of the year.
The Gloucester factory is home to brands such as Viennetta, Twister, Solero and Magnum; and the £50 million project will see its production capacity increase ‘significantly’, as well as making way for modernised infrastructure and enhanced operational efficiency at the site.
The upgrade includes a complete rebuild of the factory’s mix plant, installation of advanced blending systems, and the commission of new high-speed production lines.
According to the company, this will contribute to a targeted 50% increase in output by 2027 (versus 2023 baseline).
Founded in 1959, the Gloucester factory is the largest ice cream factory in the UK and the second in Europe – behind Unilever’s factory in Heppenheim, Germany.
The Gloucester site directly employs almost 500 people and part of this £50 million investment will also go towards supporting upskilling programmes for engineering and operations teams.
Currently, the factory produces more than 600 million ice creams every year, with over 80% of this serving the UK ice cream market.
Commenting, Peter ter Kulve, CEO at The Magnum Ice Cream Company, said: “This £50 million investment in our Gloucester facility is a key milestone in our global supply chain transformation programme and a bold step forward for our business.
“Our investment is a clear signal of our long-term commitment to the UK and will not only boost productivity and support growth but also ensure the site remains a centre of excellence for innovation, quality and sustainability as we enter our next chapter.”
Jamie Farrell, head of country UK&I at The Magnum Ice Cream Company added: “As we prepare to launch the Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone business, this investment reflects our ambition to grow, innovate and continue delighting consumers in the UK and beyond through our much-loved brands.
“Gloucester will play a central role in that journey and we are proud to be investing in its future. The investment in new state-of-the-art lines for family favourites like Twister and Solero, along with sustainability upgrades including a 5% energy efficiency gain and a 20% reduction in food waste, demonstrates our renewed commitment to innovation and responsible growth.”
Every week, the Gloucester site produces nearly three million Calippos and two million Viennettas, in addition to one million Ben & Jerry’s tubs. The site team also hold the record for the world’s longest Viennetta – made during a community challenge in 2007, it stretched across 22.7 metres.
The news of this investment follows a series of clashes between the Ben & Jerry’s founders and Unilever, alongside the announcement that Anuradha Mittal is unfit to serve as the B&J’s chair.
