Tip Top (ice cream)

What Tip Top (ice cream) does

Tip Top is New Zealand's largest and most established ice cream manufacturer, founded in 1935 in Wellington and currently headquartered at its Mt Wellington, Auckland production facility (built 1962, with an additional South Island factory in Christchurch). The company produces a broad portfolio of frozen treats under its own brands (Trumpet, Jelly Tip, Popsicle, FruJu, Memphis Meltdown, Tip Top Crave, Moments) and licensed co-brands (Whittaker's, Cadbury, Oreo), with annual production exceeding 35 million litres. Manufacturing relies on fresh New Zealand cream, natural colours and flavours, no palm oil, and includes proprietary triple-dipped ice cream technology (Memphis Meltdown, US-patented). A portion of the range is halal certified, and gluten-free and vegan variants have been introduced.

Tip Top operates a B2B wholesale distribution model, selling exclusively through retail and foodservice partners across New Zealand — supermarkets (New World, Countdown, Pak'nSave), independent dairies, petrol stations (BP, Z Energy, Night 'n Day), convenience stores, and scoop parlours — via an in-house sales-contractor network offering real-time ordering and delivery. The company has no direct consumer e-commerce channel but monetises brand experience through paid factory tours at its Auckland facility (NZ$15 adult / NZ$12.50 child). Consumer pricing is set at retailer discretion and not publicly disclosed.

Since 2019, Tip Top has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Froneri Group, a UK-headquartered specialist ice cream company, following its divestiture by Fonterra Co-operative Group (which had owned it since 2001, with earlier ownership stints under Goodman Fielder and Watties). The business maintains a steady cadence of product innovation (Crave 2020, FruJu Mango 2021, Trumpet Minis and Popsicle Fruit Stack 2023, Moments 2L 2024) and capacity investment (50% stick-line expansion in 2022), alongside CSR partnerships with Sustainable Coastlines, the Mental Health Foundation, Auckland and Wellington zoos, and the New Zealand Food Network.

Name

Tip Top (ice cream)

Legal name

Tip Top Ice Cream Company Limited

Website

https://tiptop.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tip Top is New Zealand's leading heritage ice cream manufacturer (founded 1935, Auckland-based, Froneri-owned), producing 35M+ litres annually of branded and co-branded frozen treats sold wholesale to supermarkets, dairies, petrol stations, and scoop parlours nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Cream Manufacturing

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Cream (Hard Pack) Manufacturing (AFAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Cream & Refrigerated Desserts (CRADACAE), Frozen Foods Wholesale (Packaged & Private Label) (AFAIAHAA)

Keywords

• Ice cream manufacturing
• Frozen novelty bars
• Ice cream tubs
• Dipped ice cream cones
• Frozen fruit ice blocks

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Ice Cream Wholesale: Tip Top manufactures and sells ice cream products to retailers including supermarkets, dairies, petrol stations, convenience stores, and ice cream parlours across New Zealand. Revenue is generated through wholesale distribution to retail partners rather than direct consumer sales.
2. Factory Tours: Tip Top operates factory tours at their Auckland facility, charging admission fees for tours that include viewing ice cream production and receiving a frozen treat.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tip Top manufactures and distributes branded ice cream and frozen novelty products (cones, ice blocks, dipped bars, family tubs, scoop ice cream) made with fresh New Zealand cream, natural colours and flavours, and no palm oil. Products are sold wholesale to retail partners across New Zealand, and the company also operates paid factory tours at its Auckland facility.

Product overview

Tip Top is New Zealand's favourite ice cream brand, operating as a subsidiary of Froneri Group since 2019. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of frozen treats manufactured at its Auckland factory, including iconic novelty products (Trumpet cones, Popsicle ice blocks, FruJu fruit blocks, Memphis Meltdown dipped bars, Jelly Tip, Eskimo Pie), collaborative licensed brands (Whittaker's, Cadbury, Oreo), standard ice cream tubs (2 Litre), value frozen dessert tubs (Moments), and scoop parlour ice creams. The company emphasises natural colours and flavours, uses fresh New Zealand cream, and produces over 35 million litres annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tip Top Crave: Premium ice cream tub range launched in 2020 with indulgent flavours.
• Favourites
• Trumpet
• Memphis Meltdown
• FruJu
• Popsicle
• Tip Top Moments
• Scoops
• Jelly Tip

Products and services

• Trumpet Iconic vanilla ice cream waffle cone coated with chocolate and nuts; available in multiple flavours including Boysenberry (the top-selling flavour) and a vegan/gluten-free Boysenberry variant. Sold through NZ retail partners for consumer treat and summer refreshment occasions.
• Popsicle Classic ice block range in flavours such as Lemonade, Watermelon, Fruity Tube, Mixed Minis, and Fruit Stack. Sold as single-serve treats through NZ supermarkets, dairies, and convenience outlets.
• FruJu Refreshing fruit juice ice blocks made with real fruit juice and natural colours, available in Tropical, Mango, Pineapple Crush, Orange, Raspberry & Lime, and Minis variants. Sold as single-serve frozen treats in NZ retail.
• Memphis Meltdown World's original triple-dipped ice cream novelty using US-patented triple-dipping technology with caramel sauce between double milk-chocolate coatings; variants include Gooey Caramel, White Bikkie, Big Bikkie, and Rocky Road. Marketed as an indulgent treat made with fresh milk and cream, natural flavours, and no palm oil.
• Jelly Tip Iconic chocolate-coated ice cream novelty with a marshmallow and ice cream centre. One of Tip Top's classic novelty products sold through NZ retailers.
• Eskimo Pie Chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream on a stick, produced under licence. A mainstay of Tip Top's novelty range sold through NZ retail channels.
• Topsy Tip Top's first novelty ice cream on a stick — chocolate-coated vanilla. Categorised here as a heritage novelty product.
• Tip Top Crave 1.2L Tubs Premium 1.2L ice cream tub range in indulgent flavours aimed at premium treat occasions, including a dairy-free variant.
• 2 Litre Ice Cream Tubs Standard premium 2L ice cream tubs made with fresh NZ cream, locally sourced fruit, and natural colours. Flavours include Vanilla, French Vanilla, Hokey Pokey, Boysenberry Ripple, Orange Choc Chip, Chocolate, Choc Fudge Sundae, Jelly Tip, Neapolitan, Rocky Road Caramel, and Rocky Road Strawberry. Sold through NZ supermarkets and grocery for family share occasions.
• Tip Top Moments 2L Frozen Dessert Range Value-tier 2L frozen dessert tub range launched in 2024, offering accessible everyday dessert options including Caramel Delight, Cookies & Cream, Neapolitan, Chocolate, and Vanilla, with gluten-free options.
• Scoops Ice Cream Range Range of ice cream flavours sold by scoop at parlours, including Vanilla (NZ's #1), Hokey Pokey, Boysenberry, Chocolate, Mint Choc Chip, Orange Choc Chip, Cookies and Cream, Goody Goody Gum Drops, Caramel Fudge, Rum and Raisin, Rainbow, Strawberry, Mochaccino, Rocky Road Strawberry, Fairy Bread, Banana Berry, and Pure Passion. Supplied to scoop parlours nationwide.
• Tip Top Whittaker's Ice Cream Collaboration ice cream products co-branded with Whittaker's chocolate, including vanilla, coffee, cashew praline, chocolate, and Peanut Slab flavoured ice cream bars coated in Whittaker's chocolate. Sold through NZ retailers for premium treat occasions.
• Tip Top Cadbury Ice Cream Range Ice cream range featuring Cadbury chocolate flavours, including Dairy Milk Vanilla, Caramilk, Dairy Milk Caramello, Dairy Milk Freddo Party Cake, Dairy Milk Crunchie, plus Dairy Milk Vanilla Minis and Dairy Milk Caramello Minis. Sold through NZ retailers as co-branded indulgent novelties.
• Tip Top Oreo Ice Cream Range Ice cream products featuring Oreo cookies, including the Oreo Sandwich (a cookie sandwich-style ice cream) and the Oreo 460ml tub with cookie crumb and mini Oreo pieces. Sold through NZ retailers as co-branded ice cream treats.
• Tip Top Factory Tour Paid factory tours at the Auckland Mt Wellington facility where visitors can view ice cream production and receive a frozen treat. Adult admission $15, child admission $12.50 (under 14 years), and free for infants under 6 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced over 35 million litres of ice cream annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sustainable CoastlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Tip Top has partnered with Sustainable Coastlines to help clean up and protect New Zealand beaches and biodiversity. With Trumpet celebrating 60 summers, Tip Top supports Sustainable Coastlines' beach clean-up efforts with sponsored clean-ups. They support the goal of 60% less litter on NZ coastlines by 2030. Since 2009, Sustainable Coastlines has coordinated clean-up activities resulting in more than 1.7 million litres of litter cleaned up.
• Mental Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTip Top has been a long-term supporter of the Mental Health Foundation, aligning with their purpose of 'Bringing moments of happiness to Kiwis.' Key involvement includes Pink Shirt Day and Mental Health Awareness Week, championed by Tip Top staff internally with working partnerships on campaigns to spread key messages. In 2023, Tip Top surprised frontline workers with ice cream during Mental Health Awareness week.
• Auckland ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTip Top is a proud partner of Auckland Zoo, a not-for-profit wildlife conservation science organisation on a mission to enable survival of the wild world. Partnership and sponsorship support Auckland Zoo's conservation efforts in Aotearoa and around the world.
• Te Nukuao Wellington ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTip Top is a proud partner of Wellington Zoo, caring for people and animals with a kaupapa of 'Me Tiaki, Kia Ora – we must look after our environment so all life flourishes.' Home to over 500 animals including 32 species classified vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered.
• New Zealand Food NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTip Top has partnered with NZ Food Network to distribute donated ice cream product to the most-needy in communities. Over 2023, an amazing 35,000kg of ice creams were donated by Tip Top, equating to almost 600,000 serves. Tip Top staff also volunteered to pack 4,320 food parcels at NZ Food Network headquarters.
• Froneri GroupcoreOthersTip Top Ice Cream Company was sold by Fonterra to Froneri, a specialist world-leading ice cream company originating from the UK, in 2019. Tip Top operates as Property of Froneri Group.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Streets Ice Cream: Unilever-owned Australian ice cream brand and Tip Top's closest direct competitor in the Australasian mass-market ice cream category. Both compete for similar impulse, multipack, and tub occasions across grocery and convenience channels in the trans-Tasman region.
• Peters Ice Cream: Australian heritage ice cream brand now owned by Froneri (the same parent as Tip Top). Direct sister-brand peer with overlapping product formats (cones, tubs, sticks), shared manufacturing know-how, and parallel go-to-market via supermarkets and convenience.
• Kapiti Ice Cream: New Zealand premium local ice cream brand. Domestic peer competing with Tip Top in the premium scoop and tub category across NZ supermarkets, foodservice, and boutique retail.
• Bulla Dairy Foods: Australian family-owned dairy processor with a significant ice cream business. Comparable vertically-integrated dairy-to-ice-cream manufacturer serving the Australian and export markets with overlapping tub and stick formats.
• New Zealand Natural: NZ-origin premium ice cream brand with a strong scoop parlour presence. Comparable as a New Zealand-based ice cream manufacturer and scoop retailer targeting similar domestic consumers.
• Deep South Ice Cream: New Zealand premium ice cream brand also owned by Froneri and competing with Tip Top in NZ scoop parlours and retail. Direct domestic peer serving the same Kiwi consumer base with overlapping premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Ben & Jerry's: Unilever-owned global super-premium ice cream brand available in NZ. Competes with Tip Top's premium offerings but with substantially larger international marketing budgets and brand-building muscle.
• Talenti: Premium gelato brand (Unilever) competing in the tub category with Tip Top Crave and standard 2L tubs. Relevant peer for benchmarking premium tub pricing and innovation cadence.
• Häagen-Dazs: Global premium ice cream brand owned by Nestlé, sold across NZ supermarkets and foodservice. Competes with Tip Top's premium tiers (Crave, Memphis Meltdown) but operates at much larger international scale.

Regional players

• Rush Munro's: Long-established NZ boutique ice cream manufacturer based in Hawke's Bay. Smaller-scale domestic peer competing in the scoop parlour and regional retail segments where Tip Top also plays.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TipTopNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tiptopicecream

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tip Top (ice cream)