Tip Top

Tip Top is a New Zealand ice-cream brand whose origins date to 1936, when Albert Hayman and Len Malaghan opened an ice-cream parlour on Manners Street in Wellington. The founders expanded that year with additional milk bars in Wellington and Dunedin and registered the Tip Top Ice Cream Company as a manufacturing business. The name is associated with an anecdote involving a Māori child who described an ice cream as “tip top,” although another account attributes it to a phrase overheard on a train. By 1938 Tip Top was producing its own ice cream and operating outlets across the lower North Island, Nelson, and Blenheim. A separate Auckland company was incorporated in May that year. Distribution challenges and the effects of the Second World War meant that the Wellington and Auckland operations functioned independently for a period. In 1960, the expanding business was placed under a parent company, General Foods Corporation (NZ) Limited. A major manufacturing milestone came in 1962, when Hayman and Malaghan opened a large, technically advanced factory at Mount Wellington in Auckland. The facility initially operated seasonally, but the success of products such as Topsy, Jelly Tip, FruJu, and ice-cream sundaes helped convert it into a year-round, 24-hour operation. Tip Top developed a broad portfolio spanning tubs, cones, novelty products, stick ice creams, fruit-based frozen treats, and licensed or co-branded products. Trumpet, introduced in 1964, became one of the brand’s best-known cone products, while Jelly Tip, FruJu, Hokey Pokey-related products, and other novelty formats helped establish Tip Top as a familiar part of New Zealand’s popular food culture. Corporate ownership changed several times. General Foods Corporation (NZ) joined with J. Wattie Canneries and Cropper-NRM in 1968 to form Watties Industries. Production and distribution later expanded through facilities in Christchurch and Perth, and the Christchurch plant was upgraded in 1991 to support Japanese export requirements. Heinz Watties sold Tip Top in 1997 to Western Australian food processor Peters & Browne's Foods. The transaction created what was described at the time as the largest independent ice-cream business in the Southern Hemisphere. Fonterra acquired Tip Top in 2001 as part of its purchase of the Peters & Browne's Foods business. Under Fonterra, Tip Top remained a prominent consumer-facing dairy and frozen-dessert brand, although its Christchurch factory closed in 2007 and production was consolidated in Auckland. In 2019 Fonterra sold Tip Top to Froneri for NZ$380 million. Fonterra cited the strategic difference between its dairy-nutrition focus and Tip Top’s confectionery and consumer-dessert orientation. Froneri is a United Kingdom-based ice-cream company jointly owned by PAI Partners and Nestlé. At the time of the 2019 transaction, Tip Top was producing approximately 41 million litres of ice cream annually. The brand’s primary market remains New Zealand, but its products are also exported to Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pacific Island markets. Tip Top continues to combine mass-market frozen desserts with locally recognizable products and seasonal or novelty formats. Product changes remain closely watched by New Zealand consumers: in October 2022, the discontinuation of two flavours, including Cookies & Cream shortly after it had received a national award, generated substantial public criticism.

Tip Top began in Wellington in 1936, when Albert Hayman and Len Malaghan opened an ice-cream parlour on Manners Street. The founders opened two further milk bars during the same year, one in Wellington and another in Dunedin, and established the Tip Top Ice Cream Company as a manufacturing enterprise. The origin of the name is described in two versions: one links it to a Māori child’s enthusiastic response after receiving an ice cream, while another says the founders heard the expression used by a passenger discussing a meal on a train. The company was manufacturing its own ice cream by 1938 and had developed a regional network covering the lower North Island and parts of the upper South Island. Tip Top Ice Cream Company Auckland Limited was incorporated in May 1938. Because of distribution problems and wartime conditions, the Auckland and Wellington businesses operated separately for some time. Expansion eventually led to the creation of General Foods Corporation (NZ) Limited as a parent company in 1960. In November 1962, the founders opened a substantial factory at Mount Wellington in Auckland. The plant was presented as one of the most advanced ice-cream factories in the Southern Hemisphere and included staff housing and surrounding farmland. It initially produced seasonally, but strong demand for new products transformed the facility into a continuous, year-round operation. Early and enduring products included Topsy, Jelly Tip, FruJu, and ice-cream sundaes. Trumpet was introduced in 1964, adding a cone format that became central to Tip Top’s portfolio. The business became part of Watties Industries in 1968 after General Foods Corporation (NZ) merged with J. Wattie Canneries and Cropper-NRM. As demand and export activity grew, Tip Top operated or used additional production capacity in Christchurch and Perth. The Christchurch factory received an upgrade in 1991 to satisfy export requirements for Japan. The company’s range broadened over subsequent decades with products including Rocky Road, Toppa, Joy Bar, Popsicle, R2D2 Space Ice, Goody Goody Gum Drops, licensed character products, Cadbury-branded ice creams, and other novelty formats. Heinz Watties sold Tip Top in April 1997 to Western Australian food processor Peters & Browne's Foods. The combination of the two businesses was described as creating the largest independent ice-cream company in the Southern Hemisphere, with reported combined sales of $550 million at the time. In June 2001, Fonterra acquired Tip Top through its purchase of the Peters & Browne's Foods business. Tip Top subsequently operated as part of Fonterra’s branded consumer portfolio and was also known as Fonterra Brands (Tip Top) Ltd. The Christchurch factory closed in 2007, consolidating production in Auckland. Fonterra later reviewed its portfolio and sold Tip Top in 2019 to Froneri for NZ$380 million. The sale reflected Fonterra’s view that a consumer confectionery and ice-cream business was not closely aligned with its dairy-nutrition strategy. Froneri, a United Kingdom-based ice-cream group jointly owned by PAI Partners and Nestlé, became Tip Top’s owner. Tip Top’s products are sold primarily in New Zealand and are exported to Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pacific Island markets. In 2019, the brand was reported to produce about 41 million litres of ice cream annually. The brand has retained a strong cultural presence in New Zealand, where product launches, withdrawals, and flavour changes can attract unusually high public attention. In 2022, the removal of two flavours, including Cookies & Cream, led to considerable consumer outcry after the flavour had recently won a national award.

• 2022

  Two flavours are discontinued

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Tip Top withdrew two flavours, including Cookies & Cream, prompting public criticism.

• 2019

  Froneri acquires Tip Top

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Fonterra sold Tip Top to Froneri for NZ$380 million.

• 2007

  Christchurch production closes

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  The Christchurch factory was closed and production was consolidated in Auckland.

• 2001

  Fonterra acquires Tip Top

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Fonterra bought Tip Top as part of its acquisition of the Peters & Browne's Foods business.

• 1997

  Heinz Watties sells Tip Top

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Tip Top was sold to Peters & Browne's Foods, creating a large independent ice-cream business.

• 1991

  Christchurch plant is upgraded for Japanese exports

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  The Christchurch factory was upgraded to meet stringent requirements associated with exports to Japan.

• 1968

  Watties Industries is formed

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  General Foods Corporation (NZ) merged with J. Wattie Canneries and Cropper-NRM to form Watties Industries.

• 1964

  Trumpet is introduced

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Tip Top launched Trumpet, one of the brand’s enduring cone-based products.

• 1962

  Mount Wellington factory opens

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Tip Top opened a large, technically advanced Auckland factory that later became a year-round production site.

• 1960

  Parent company is established

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  General Foods Corporation (NZ) Limited was formed as the parent company for the expanding operation.

• 1938

  Tip Top begins manufacturing its own ice cream

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  The company began producing its own ice cream and expanded its retail presence across several New Zealand regions.

• 1936

  Tip Top is founded in Wellington

  [1]Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org

  Albert Hayman and Len Malaghan opened their first parlour, expanded with milk bars, and registered the Tip Top Ice Cream Company.

A mainstream New Zealand ice-cream brand built around broad household availability, familiar local flavours, accessible formats, and a long history of novelty products.

• Novelty ice cream · 1950

  Jelly Tip

  Jelly Tip is one of Tip Top’s longstanding named products and an early innovation associated with the company’s expansion from parlours into packaged and novelty ice creams. Its continued recognition reflects Tip Top’s emphasis on distinctive, locally familiar formats.

• Ice-cream cone · 1964

  Trumpet

  Introduced in 1964, Trumpet is a cone-format ice cream and one of the best-known products in Tip Top’s portfolio. The product helped establish the cone as a central part of the brand’s mass-market range alongside tubs, bars, and fruit-based frozen treats.

• Fruit-based frozen treat · 1960

  FruJu

  FruJu is a fruit-oriented frozen product developed during Tip Top’s period of innovation in the mid-twentieth century. It broadened the brand beyond conventional dairy ice cream and became part of its recognizable novelty-product family.

• Stick ice cream

  Topsy

  Topsy was identified as Tip Top’s first stick ice cream and was named after a cow. It represents the brand’s early move into individually portioned frozen novelties and illustrates the product experimentation that supported the growth of the Mount Wellington operation.

• Novelty ice cream · 1980

  Hokey Bar

  Hokey Bar is a bar-format Tip Top product associated with the company’s New Zealand-focused novelty range. It was promoted as having a distinctive centre and became part of the brand’s portfolio of recognizable single-serve frozen products.

• Flavoured ice cream · 1980

  Goody Goody Gum Drops

  Goody Goody Gum Drops is a named flavour and product line from Tip Top’s 1980s range. Its playful identity reflects the brand’s use of colourful, confectionery-inspired concepts to appeal to children and families.

• Chocolate-coated ice cream bar · 1970

  Choc Bar

  Choc Bar is a chocolate-oriented single-serve ice-cream product listed among Tip Top’s offerings. It belongs to the brand’s long-running family of accessible bar and novelty formats sold through the New Zealand frozen-dessert market.

• Flavoured ice cream

  Cookies & Cream

  Cookies & Cream was a Tip Top flavour that was discontinued in 2022. Its withdrawal attracted public attention because the flavour had received a national award shortly beforehand.

• 2022

  Flavour discontinuationsOther

  Background

  Tip Top adjusted its flavour range and discontinued two products.

  Action taken

  The company withdrew Cookies & Cream and one other flavour.

  Aftermath

  The decision generated considerable public criticism in New Zealand, particularly because Cookies & Cream had recently won a national award.

  Source

• 2019

  Froneri acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Fonterra considered Tip Top’s confectionery and consumer-dessert activities strategically different from its dairy-nutrition focus.

  Action taken

  Fonterra sold Tip Top to Froneri.

  Aftermath

  Tip Top became part of Froneri, the ice-cream group jointly owned by PAI Partners and Nestlé. At the time of the sale, Tip Top produced about 41 million litres of ice cream annually.

  Sale price. NZ$380 million (2019 transaction)

  Source

• 2007

  Production consolidation in AucklandStrategy

  Background

  Fonterra reviewed Tip Top’s manufacturing footprint as production requirements changed.

  Action taken

  The Christchurch factory was closed and production was moved to Auckland.

  Aftermath

  Auckland became the consolidated production base identified for Tip Top.

  Source

• 2001

  Fonterra acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Fonterra expanded its branded dairy and consumer-food portfolio through the purchase of the Peters & Browne's Foods business.

  Action taken

  Fonterra acquired Tip Top as part of the wider transaction.

  Aftermath

  Tip Top operated under Fonterra ownership until its subsequent sale to Froneri.

  Source

• 1997

  Sale to Peters & Browne's FoodsM&A

  Background

  Heinz Watties decided to sell Tip Top as part of a broader change in ownership of the ice-cream business.

  Action taken

  Tip Top was sold to Western Australian food processor Peters & Browne's Foods.

  Aftermath

  The combination was described as creating the largest independent ice-cream business in the Southern Hemisphere at the time.

  Combined sales. $550 million (At the time of the 1997 merger)

  Source

1. 1Tip Top (ice cream)en.wikipedia.org