Hennig-Olsen Is
Hennig-Olsen Is AS is a third-generation, family-owned Norwegian ice cream manufacturer founded in 1924, producing approximately 32 million liters annually at its Hannevika factory in Kristiansand. It supplies sub-brand-packed retail ice cream nationwide via NorgesGruppen and runs a B2B professional-serving motion supplying soft serve, milkshake, and slush equipment, ingredients, and nationwide service to foodservice operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1924
- HeadquartersKristiansand, Norway
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hennig-Olsen Is does
Hennig-Olsen Is AS is a privately held, family-owned Norwegian ice cream manufacturer founded in 1924 by Sven Hennig-Olsen in Kristiansand, now in its third generation of family ownership with Paal Hennig-Olsen as Managing Director since 1996. The company operates a single production facility at the Hannevika waterfront in Kristiansand, where approximately 32 million liters of ice cream and frozen desserts are produced annually, alongside in-house chocolate, caramel, krokan (almond brittle), and jam used in premium products. It is one of only two ice cream factories remaining in Norway after the 1980s consolidation that eliminated dozens of small and medium competitors, with nationwide retail distribution secured through a long-standing partnership with NorgesGruppen established in 1993.
The company serves two parallel customer bases: a retail/consumer segment via grocery channels spanning twelve sub-brands including Premium, NUDE, Sørlandsis, Idyll (plant-based), Friskis, Soft Shake, Nyt (low-calorie/no-sugar-added/protein), Big Deal, Crème, Isabella, Snackis, and Krone-is; and a B2B professional-serving segment supplying soft serve, milkshake, and slush machines, consumables, toppings, and nationwide technical service to ice cream parlors, restaurants, cafes, events, and festival caterers. Customer touchpoints are regional sales consultants (with postcode lookup), a nationwide technical service network operating weekdays 7-15 with a peak-season emergency hotline in weeks 12-36, and a direct-to-consumer factory outlet in Kristiansand selling surplus and irregular inventory on Tuesdays and Saturdays as an anti-food-waste initiative.
Commercial mechanics combine one-time product sales (pints, multipacks, single-serve, soft serve and milkshake bag-in-box mixes, slush concentrates, toppings/sauces/sprinkles), hardware sales and servicing (machines, cups, accessories), and quote-based B2B pricing through field sales consultants. Marketing is driven by Instagram (@kremenaviskrem) and Facebook, a recipe content library, sports and diversity sponsorships (Norway Cup, Sør Cup, Start Toppfotball, Skeive Sørlandsdager), and a charitable partnership with Doctors Without Borders. The company emphasizes premium positioning using Norwegian cream, egg yolk, and natural fruits, with a documented 2021 climate footprint mapping conducted with NORSUS as part of a climate-neutrality goal.
Hennig-Olsen Is firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hennig-Olsen Is
- Legal name
- Hennig-Olsen Is AS
- Website
- https://hennig-olsen.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1924
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Hennig-Olsen Is AS is a third-generation, family-owned Norwegian ice cream manufacturer founded in 1924, producing approximately 32 million liters annually at its Hannevika factory in Kristiansand. It supplies sub-brand-packed retail ice cream nationwide via NorgesGruppen and runs a B2B professional-serving motion supplying soft serve, milkshake, and slush equipment, ingredients, and nationwide service to foodservice operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hennig-Olsen Is industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ice Cream Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520)
- SIC
- Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing (AFAKAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones) (AFAHAEAG), Soft-Serve Ice Cream Mix Manufacturing (AFAHAEAB), Ice Cream & Frozen Dairy Wholesale (AFAIAEAF)
Keywords
Where Hennig-Olsen Is is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kristiansand
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hennig-Olsen Is business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ice cream and frozen dessert sales: Sale of ice cream products including pints, multipacks, single-serve items, soft serve mix, milkshake mix, and slush products to retail and foodservice channels.
- Soft serve and equipment services: Provision and servicing of soft serve machines, milkshake machines, and slush machines to professional customers. Technical service support via nationwide service network.
- Professional serving ingredients and supplies: Sale of toppings, sauces, syrups, sprinkles, cups, and serving accessories to professional customers operating ice cream parlors and restaurants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B professional serving pricing through sales consultants |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hennig-Olsen Is product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hennig-Olsen Is manufactures and sells ice cream and frozen desserts at its Hannevika factory in Kristiansand, Norway, producing approximately 32 million liters annually. The company sells branded ice cream product lines (Premium, NUDE, Sørlandsis, Idyll, Friskis, Soft Shake, Nyt, Big Deal, Crème, Isabella, Snackis, Krone-is) through retail grocery channels via NorgesGruppen nationwide distribution. For professional foodservice customers (ice cream parlors, restaurants, caterers), the company provides soft serve and milkshake machines, slush products, toppings, serving accessories, technical service, and the Iskremakademiet training academy.
Product overview
Hennig-Olsen Is is a Norwegian ice cream manufacturer founded in 1924, producing approximately 32 million liters of ice cream annually at their factory in Hannevika, Kristiansand. The company offers a diverse ice cream portfolio organized into branded sub-lines: Premium (premium dessert ice cream with few additives), NUDE (80% fruit sorbet series), Sørlandsis (classic dessert ice), Idyll (plant-based/vegan options), Friskis (fruit ice/sorbet), Soft Shake (cup ice cream), Nyt (low-calorie/no-sugar-added/protein), Big Deal (extra large format), Crème (premium stick ice), Isabella (classic stick ice), Snackis (sandwich-style ice), and Krone-is (classic stick varieties). The company also produces their own chocolate, caramel, toffee, and jam. For professional customers, Hennig-Olsen offers soft ice machines, milkshake mix, SLURP slush products, toppings (caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, sprinkles), serving equipment, and support services including the Iskremakademiet training academy and nationwide technical service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Premium: Premium dessert ice cream series made with carefully selected ingredients, fewer additives, and no artificial colors. Made with pride at the ice cream factory in Kristiansand.
- NUDE
- Sørlandsis
- Idyll
- Friskis
- Soft Shake
- Nyt
- Big Deal
- Crème
- Isabella
- Snackis
- Krone-is
- Slurp
Products and services
- Premium Premium dessert ice cream series made with carefully selected ingredients, fewer additives, and no artificial colors. Flavors include Ekte Vanilje, Kirsebær, Sjokolade, and Peanøtt & Karamell. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- NUDE Next-generation fruit ice with 80% fruit content and minimal ingredients, available in Mango and Jordbær flavors on a stick and in 500ml boxes. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Sørlandsis Classic dessert ice cream from Southern Norway with traditional flavors suitable for all occasions. Includes Sjokolade, Sjokonøtt, Salt Karamell, Sitron, and Jordbær & Blåbær varieties. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Idyll Plant-based and dairy-free ice cream series made with oat milk, vegan, with creamy texture. Flavors include Salt Karamell, Krone-is Jordbær, Sjokoladeis. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Friskis Classic fruit ice (sorbet) with high fruit content. Available in multiple formats: small ice sticks, sorbet popsicles, slurp slush drinks, and multipacks. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Soft Shake Ice cream in cups known for its soft texture and nostalgic taste. Now also available in Soft Shake Sitron flavor. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Nyt Low-calorie ice cream series with rich texture. DobbelSJOKO and SaltKARAMELL are no-sugar-added varieties; SjokoPRO is a high-protein ice cream with 30 grams of protein per box. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Big Deal Extra large ice cream produced in Southern Norway with caramel sauce and chocolate coating. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Crème Most exclusive ice cream on a stick from Hennig-Olsen, made with quality ingredients and traced origins. Available in flavors including Pasjonsfrukt & Sitron, Lakris, Ekte Pistasj, Deluxe, and Lemon Passion. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Isabella Timeless ice cream classic with cream ice and crispy chocolate coating. Available in vanilje and jordbær flavors. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Snackis Sandwich ice hybrid with cream ice, chocolate spin covered with biscuit on one side and chocolate coating with crisp on the other. Also available as Snackis Sjokokaramell. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Krone-is Classic ice cream brand on a stick. Available in varieties including Jordbær, Sjokolade, and NonStop with colorful NonStop toppings. A Krone-is hipp hurra! birthday edition was released for the 100th anniversary in 2024. Sold through Norwegian grocery retail.
- Softis Mix Frossen Frozen soft ice mix in bag-in-box format, 9.5 liters. Specially adapted for Softis machines deployed by Hennig-Olsen Is to professional foodservice customers.
- Milkshake Mix Frozen milkshake mix in bag-in-box format, 9.5 liters. Specially adapted for Milkshake machines deployed by Hennig-Olsen Is to professional foodservice customers.
- SLURP Slush Series Slush drink concentrate for slush machines. One 1.5L bottle makes approximately 6 liters of finished slush. Flavors include Cola, Surt Kirsebær, Friskis, Iste Fersken, Blåbær, Grønt Eple, Jordbær, Mango, Pære, Bringebær, and Cola Uten Tilsatt Sukker.
- Softis Soft ice cream served from specialized machines, available to professional customers who want to sell Hennig-Olsen Is soft ice in ice cream parlors, restaurants, and at events.
- Karamellsaus Caramel sauce for topping ice cream, soft ice, and desserts. 675g package. Sold to professional foodservice customers.
- Sjokoladesaus Chocolate sauce for topping ice cream, soft ice, and desserts. 635g package. Sold to professional foodservice customers.
- Karamellfudge Strøssel Caramel fudge sprinkles for soft ice, ice cream, and other desserts. 1kg package. Sold to professional foodservice customers.
- Iskremakademiet Training academy for professional customers providing tips, ideas, and inspiration for ice cream usage. Developed by the company's food and concept chef Knut Harald Sørdal.
- Teknisk service Nationwide service network offering on-site service and telephone support for professional customers with equipment. Available weekdays 7-15, with on-call phone during peak season (weeks 12-36).
Companies that use Hennig-Olsen Is
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hennig-Olsen Is technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Hennig-Olsen Is partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- LICC (Licence International Contact Centre)minorHennig-Olsen Is entered a collaboration with LICC as announced in January 2026.
- Leger Uten Grenser (Doctors Without Borders)minorHennig-Olsen Is has entered a partnership with Doctors Without Borders, supporting their important emergency aid work financially while also working internally to challenge their own boundaries to become a better workplace.
- Norway CupminorNorway Cup is one of the world's largest football tournaments for children and youth aged 6-19. Hennig-Olsen Is is a proud partner in 2025, providing 'Kremen av iskrem' to players, coaches, and participating families.
- Start ToppfotballminorHennig-Olsen Is has supported Start Toppfotball for many years. Together for Southern Norway (Sammen for Sørlandet) is the club's motto.
- Sør CupminorHennig-Olsen Is supports one of Norway's largest football tournaments for boys and girls aged 7-19. Ice cream joy and football joy last weekend before school starts.
- Skeive SørlandsdagerminorHennig-Olsen Is is a clear diversity company and proud supporter of Skeive Sørlandsdager which wants to clearly show love, diversity, community, equality, and gender equality.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hennig-Olsen Is competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Diplom-Is: Diplom-Is is the only other Norwegian ice cream factory still operating after the 1980s consolidation, making it the closest domestic competitor to Hennig-Olsen Is. Both target Norwegian consumers with branded packaged ice cream and share the same duopoly structure in Norway.
- Ben & Jerry's (Unilever): Ben & Jerry's is a premium, values-led ice cream brand sold in scoop shops and grocery, mirroring Hennig-Olsen Is's premium Norwegian positioning and its B2B parlor/café channel. Both compete for the same premium consumer and foodservice operator in European markets including Norway.
- Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny): Wells Enterprises is one of the largest family-owned U.S. ice cream manufacturers (Blue Bunny, Bomb Pop, Halo Top) with branded and private-label capabilities across novelties, tubs, and scooped products. It is comparable to Hennig-Olsen Is as a family-controlled, vertically integrated premium ice cream manufacturer.
- Talenti (Unilever): Talenti is a premium gelato and sorbet brand now owned by Unilever, positioned in the same super-premium, ingredient-forward tier as Hennig-Olsen Is's Premium and Crème ranges. It competes for premium scoop and pint occasions in shared European retail channels.
Broad incumbents
- Wall's (Unilever): Wall's is Unilever's flagship ice cream brand sold across Norway and Europe, directly competing with Hennig-Olsen Is on retail shelves via supermarkets like NorgesGruppen. As part of Unilever's global portfolio, it represents the broad multinational incumbent pressure on Hennig-Olsen's premium positioning.
- Nestlé Ice Cream: Nestlé distributes major ice cream brands (including Mövenpick, Extrême, and Nestlé branded novelties) across Norway, competing with Hennig-Olsen Is at both retail and foodservice channels. Its global scale and R&D capacity make it the broadest incumbent in the Norwegian category.
- Froneri: Froneri is a specialized ice cream-focused joint venture between Nestlé and R&R (PAI Partners) with a strong European footprint including Norway. It competes across take-home and impulse ice cream segments and operates B2B soft-serve solutions analogous to Hennig-Olsen Is's professional serving business.
- Häagen-Dazs (General Mills): Häagen-Dazs is a premium global ice cream brand distributed in Norway through General Mills' broader food portfolio. It directly competes with Hennig-Olsen Is's Premium and Crème sub-brands in the super-premium consumer segment.
Emerging players
- Oatly: Oatly has expanded from oat-based drinks into plant-based ice cream and frozen desserts sold across European retailers including Norway. It overlaps directly with Hennig-Olsen Is's Idyll vegan sub-brand in the rapidly growing dairy-free frozen category.
Regional players
- Turkey Hill Dairy: Turkey Hill is a regional U.S. ice cream and dairy manufacturer with branded retail products and foodservice offerings, including soft-serve and milkshake mixes. It is comparable as a regionally anchored, multi-channel ice cream manufacturer, though it serves a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hennig-Olsen Is social profiles
Digital presenceHennig-Olsen Is financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hennig-Olsen Is leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Hennig-Olsen Is funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hennig-Olsen Is M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hennig-Olsen Is
What does Hennig-Olsen Is do?
Hennig-Olsen Is manufactures and sells ice cream and frozen desserts at its Hannevika factory in Kristiansand, Norway, producing approximately 32 million liters annually. The company sells branded ice cream product lines (Premium, NUDE, Sørlandsis, Idyll, Friskis, Soft Shake, Nyt, Big Deal, Crème, Isabella, Snackis, Krone-is) through retail grocery channels via NorgesGruppen nationwide distribution. For professional foodservice customers (ice cream parlors, restaurants, caterers), the company provides soft serve and milkshake machines, slush products, toppings, serving accessories, technical service, and the Iskremakademiet training academy.
Is Hennig-Olsen Is a public or private company?
Hennig-Olsen Is is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hennig-Olsen Is founded?
Hennig-Olsen Is was founded in 1924. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Hennig-Olsen Is based?
Hennig-Olsen Is is headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Hennig-Olsen Is make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ice cream and frozen dessert sales are the primary driver. The others are soft serve and equipment services and professional serving ingredients and supplies.
Who are Hennig-Olsen Is's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Diplom-Is, Ben & Jerry's (Unilever), Wells Enterprises (Blue Bunny) and Talenti (Unilever). Broad incumbents are Wall's (Unilever), Nestlé Ice Cream, Froneri and Häagen-Dazs (General Mills). Oatly is listed as an emerging player. Turkey Hill Dairy is listed as a regional player.
Does Hennig-Olsen Is have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hennig-Olsen Is.
What industry is Hennig-Olsen Is in?
Hennig-Olsen Is's product category is Ice Cream Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAKAE, Ice Cream, Frozen Desserts & Novelties Manufacturing, with a secondary code of AFAHAEAG, Dairy-Based Frozen Novelties Manufacturing (Bars, Sandwiches, Cones). Its NAICS code is 311520 and its SIC code is 2024.