Magnolia has been bringing joy to every meal for three decades since its establishment in 1981 as part of San Miguel Corporation’s Magnolia Ice Cream Division. In 1987, Magnolia partnered with New Zealand Dairy Board (NZDB) to form Philippine Dairy Products Corporation (PDPC), with SMC holding a 70% stake. In July 2002, SMC acquired NZDB’s share, transforming Magnolia Incorporated into a subsidiary of San Miguel Pure Foods Company.
Magnolia has diversified from butter, margarine, and cheese into a top manufacturer of dairy, fats, and oils in the Philippines. In their 5-hectare Plant facility in General Trias, Cavite, they now produce a new product line that includes jelly, jams, UHT milk, specialty oils, salad aids, and cooking oil. Magnolia is the first dairy company to be certified by the International Standard Organization (ISO) 22000:2005 and they have also received the ISO 9001:2008 certification. Additionally, Magnolia has been granted the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Certification) and GMP certifications by SGS Philippines Inc.
Magnolia has obtained HALAL product certifications from the Islamic Daiwah Council of the Philippines (IDCP). The company ensures that it consistently provides high-quality foods that nourish generations by strictly controlling food safety and quality management. Our goal is to offer you superior products through continuous research and advanced technology. Magnolia is committed to preserving the tradition of preparing delightful meals for future generations.
MAGNOLIA INC., formerly known as the Philippine Dairy Products Corporation, is a dairy company that specializes in marketing, manufacturing, distributing, and exporting butter, margarine, and cheese products. These items are sold under the Magnolia, Dari crème, and Star brands. The company’s manufacturing facility spans across 5 hectares and is situated in Governor’s Drive, Bo. De Fuego, Gen. Trias Cavite. It is worth mentioning that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) holds complete ownership of MAGNOLIA INC. Moreover, Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream proudly originates from the Philippines and is available for purchase both domestically and internationally in countries like Thailand, the United States, Australia Malaysia, and Singapore.
Magnolia, a division of San Miguel Corporation, was established in 1925. The company specializes in tropical ice cream flavors such as Halo halo (a mix of fruits and beans), Buko Pandán (young coconut with pandan), Maís Queso (corn and cheese), avocado, Nangkasúy (jackfruit with cashew), Ube and Buko Salad (young coconut and fruit), and Macapuno (coconut sport). They also have classic flavors like mango, chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. Apart from their regular offerings, Magnolia introduces limited-edition ice cream called “Flavor of The Month,” which is exclusively available for one month.
Nestle Philippines purchased the brand in 1999, but it was relaunched by San Miguel in the Philippines in 2004 after a five-year break. During the relaunch, “gold label” flavors such as rocky road, cookies and cream, dulce de leche, and double dutch were added. The company also introduced Coffee Vienna and Waffle Cheesecake for the Christmas holidays in 2008. The Magnolia brand ice creams originated in Manila, which is a hot and humid tropical city. A reviewer mentioned that flavors like purple taro ice cream are especially refreshing, comparing it to cookies-and-cream. This brief history showcases the evolution of the Magnolia brand ice creams.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, Magnolia had an ice cream parlor at its plant in Manila along Aurora Boulevard. Customers could enjoy classic treats such as banana splits, sundaes, and parfaits. Some popular choices included Ernie and Bert, Black and White, the Choo-choo Train, Banana Split Fudge, Marshmallow Nut Sundae, and the Coney Island. In addition to the original location, Magnolia opened several other branches throughout the city. When Nestle acquired Magnolia in 1996, the parlor became part of the deal and the Magnolia name was gradually replaced with Nestle branded ice creams. However, in 2004, San Miguel reintroduced the Magnolia brand and in 2008, the parlor reopened with a partner.
San Miguel’s “family” brand division was reintroduced after the expiration of the non-compete clause. In the early 1990s, the company invested P25 billion in modernization and expansion, establishing three new plants in Iloilo, Quezon City, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. This strategic expansion aimed to minimize transportation costs. However, starting from 1998 and lasting for five years, San Miguel was barred from participating in the ice cream industry due to selling its 45% stake in Nestle Philippines Inc., as a result of a non-compete agreement with Nestle S.A. of Switzerland.
San Miguel, a major food and beverage conglomerate in Asia, had plans to construct a $18 million multi-product industrial park and plant in Santa Rosa City’s Laguna industrial park near Manila. The expected completion date for this project was 2005. San Miguel aimed to regain its market leadership in bulk ice cream by focusing on innovative product packaging and providing high-quality products at more affordable prices. As of 2008, the ice cream market in the Philippines was valued at P5 billion and predominantly controlled by Unilever’s Selecta brand (40%), with Nestle (35%) and Magnolia (2%) following closely behind.
In 2009, the company adorned its containers with artworks created by renowned Filipino artist Fernando Amorsolo. Also in that year, the previous plant situated at Aurora Boulevard ceased operations and was later demolished. This was done to pave the way for the development of a new residential and commercial site by Robinsons Land. Eventually, it reopened as Robinsons Magnolia three years later, along with the upcoming opening of Magnolia Residences. The new mall houses the Magnolia Ice Cream parlor. The current location of the Magnolia Ice Cream plant is now in Sta.
Rosa, Laguna, has been in operation since 2010. Magnolia is manufactured internationally in Thailand by Fraser & Neave, a Singapore-based company. In 1999, Fraser & Neave entered the Thai market with a 500 million baht investment to acquire the United ice-cream brand from a Thai partner. Following the acquisition, all ice-cream factories in Singapore and Malaysia were closed, and production was relocated to Thailand. The United ice-cream brand was rebranded as Magnolia by F&N. Six years later, F&N’s Magnolia is a profitable brand and one of the top three in Thailand’s six-billion-baht ice-cream market, with Wall’s of Unilever Thai Trading and Nestlé’s Thai division leading the way. Approximately 60 percent of Magnolia’s total output is designated for exports. In 2005, the company produced over 300 stock-keeping units and had a dedicated research and development center specifically for Magnolia ice-cream.
The company’s executive emphasized their commitment to enhancing Thailand as the primary production center for Magnolia ice-cream. They have no intention of relocating the plant to China, as they have faith in Thailand’s capability to deliver exceptional and high-quality products. It is important to note that the ownership of the Magnolia Brand and Trademark in the United States lies with a separate family business unrelated to San Miguel Corporation. The actual manufacturing of the ice cream occurs at Ramar International Corp. in Pittsburg, California. Ramar International Corp. is renowned for creating a variety of ice cream flavors inspired by traditional Filipino tastes, with Ube – an ice cream made from purple yams – being their most popular flavor.
Currently, Ramar Foods is known for producing a unique tropical ice cream made from real Butterfat, unlike other tropical ice cream brands that use Mellorine. Steven Eis, the manufacturing manager, explains that this ice cream has gained popularity among Filipino communities and can be found in ethnic grocery stores across California and Hawaii. However, it is increasingly attracting customers from outside these communities as people seek alternatives to traditional vanilla and chocolate flavors.
