How an AI Platform is Transforming Ice Cream Manufacturing

The Magnum Ice Cream Company has announced a multi-year collaboration with HCLTech that could reshape how the world's largest ice cream manufacturer operates in the digital age.

The partnership will see HCLTech overhaul the IT infrastructure for the company behind household names including Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Wall's and Cornetto. According to the agreement, HCLTech's AI Force platform will be deployed across the entire digital infrastructure in the coming years, marking a significant shift towards AI-driven operations.

Mark O'Brien, Chief Technology Officer at The Magnum Ice Cream Company, explains the strategic importance of the collaboration: "As The Magnum Ice Cream Company advances as an independent listed ice cream company, we are infusing intelligence into every layer of our digital foundation.

"Our partnership with HCLTech is instrumental in building a secure, future-ready infrastructure. Together, we are unlocking advanced AI capabilities that will redefine operational excellence and elevate the experiences we deliver."

The move comes as The Magnum Ice Cream Company establishes itself as a standalone entity, having separated from Unilever on 1 July 2025. The business reported revenue exceeding €7.9bn (US$8.3bn) in 2024, according to company figures, positioning it as a major player in the global ice cream market.

Building infrastructure from the ground up

HCLTech has been tasked with creating a greenfield IT infrastructure for The Magnum Ice Cream Company as it navigates its Transition Service Agreement exit. The technology provider will design, build and manage the new systems with user experience as a central priority.

The partnership will integrate predictive analytics into the infrastructure, aiming to deliver scalable and resilient IT operations across global markets. According to the companies, zero-touch automation represents a primary focus area, with HCLTech overseeing the shift from AIOps (AI for IT operations) to a NoOps (no operations) operating model.

This evolution incorporates agentic solutions into The Magnum Ice Cream Company's operations, moving towards autonomous functionality. The approach could reduce manual intervention while improving operational efficiency across the organisation.

The infrastructure transformation represents a critical step for the newly independent company as it builds technology systems separate from its former parent organisation. This greenfield approach allows The Magnum Ice Cream Company to implement modern, AI-enabled solutions from inception rather than retrofitting legacy systems.

Autonomous operations through AI integration

C. Vijayakumar, CEO & Managing Director of HCLTech, emphasises the significance of the collaboration: "This partnership reinforces HCLTech's leadership in driving complex, global transformations backed by deep domain expertise. We look forward to contributing to TMICC's growth vision and strategy with the best of technology and global talent."

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is leveraging HCLTech's experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry to drive its technology-led transformation. The goal centres on achieving completely autonomous IT operations powered by the AI Force platform and agentic AI solutions.

The company's leadership has emphasised the strategic importance of technology investment as part of its independent growth strategy. The focus on AI-driven operations reflects broader industry trends towards automation and intelligent systems in the consumer goods sector.

The partnership positions The Magnum Ice Cream Company among a growing number of food businesses incorporating AI into their operations. As the manufacturer establishes its independent infrastructure, the collaboration with HCLTech could provide a blueprint for digital transformation in the consumer goods sector.