Magnum introduced the first version of its chocolate-coated ice-cream bar in 1989.
The product was developed for adults and initially consisted of vanilla ice cream covered with a thick chocolate coating. It was created by Frisko, a Danish ice-cream company, and marketed by the multinational company that later became associated with Unilever’s Heartbrand portfolio.
The bar’s design differs from an ordinary chocolate-covered ice-cream stick because the coating is deliberately substantial and gives a noticeable snap when bitten. Magnum later expanded into many versions, including bars with different chocolate coatings, sauces, nuts, and flavored ice-cream centers.
Magnum is sometimes confused with the Cornetto, another widely distributed cone-shaped frozen dessert. Cornetto has a wafer cone and a chocolate-lined interior, while Magnum is principally recognized as a coated bar on a stick. The 1989 date refers to the original Magnum launch, not the later introduction of every flavor or national variation.