Unilever’s soon-to-be-spun-off division, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, has announced a partnership with Chilean startup NotCo to leverage artificial intelligence for product innovation and nutritional reformulation.
The collaboration will use NotCo’s proprietary AI platform, Giuseppe, to tackle complex challenges in ice cream development, ranging from portion sizes and sustainability to flavors, textures, and nutritional profiles. The goal is to accelerate product pipelines without compromising on consumer expectations of taste and quality.
“Consumer preferences are evolving rapidly, and the challenges around portioning, nutrition, and sustainability require new tools,” said Zbigniew Lewicki, Chief Research, Design and Innovation Officer at The Magnum Ice Cream Company. “Our partnership with NotCo is helping us unlock smarter ways to innovate, expand beyond traditional ice cream boundaries, and deliver on changing consumer needs.”
The tie-up comes just weeks before Unilever finalizes the spin-off of its ice cream division, which generated $9.3 billion in revenue last year across brands including Magnum, Breyers, Klondike, and Talenti. The standalone entity will become the world’s largest ice cream company.
Magnum’s alliance with NotCo adds to Unilever’s broader AI adoption strategy. The FMCG giant has already deployed AI tools to optimize shelf life, forecast flavor trends, and enhance product textures, helping launch items such as Knorr Zero Salt Cube and Hellmann’s Real Mayo Squeeze Bottle.
AI-driven innovation is gaining traction across the food and beverage industry as companies adapt to shifting consumer preferences. Kraft Heinz, for instance, has used AI to develop plant-based products under its joint venture with NotCo, while Coca-Cola has turned to AI to address agricultural challenges affecting orange supplies.
For NotCo, which has previously partnered with Kraft Heinz to create plant-based versions of iconic products like Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Kraft Mac & Cheese, the deal with Magnum represents another milestone in extending its AI-powered food formulation technology to global players.