Start1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
1935-2025

Discover the rich history of Tip Top over the last 90 years.

1930s
1935
  • Albert Hayman and Len Malaghan open the very first Tip Top Milk Bar at 36 Manners Street in Wellington on 10th October 1935. It specialised in ice cream and milk shakes and was the first of a string of similar stores that opened around the lower half of the North Island and the top of the South.
NEXT
1936
  • In July 1936 the Tip Top Ice Cream Company is registered as an official company and manufacturer.
NEXT
1938
  • An Auckland factory was built at 20 Dunkerron Avenue, Epsom and the first Auckland Tip Top Milk Bar opened at 53 Queen Street.
NEXT
1949
  • Tip Top Wellington launch the company's first refrigerated trucking operation which later becomes Refrigerated Freight Lines Ltd.
NEXT
1951

Tip Top Auckland take over Peter's Ice Cream NZ Ltd, one of its larger competitors

Next
Early 1950's
  • Tip Top launches its first novely ice cream on a stick, a chocolate coated vanilla ice cream called Topsy. Rumour has it the ice cream was named after one of Len Malaghan's favourite cows.
  • The Jelly Tip is born soon after in 1951.
NEXT
1953
  • Tip Top Wellington open a new factory in Johnsonville.
NEXT
1954
  • Linked to the take over of Robinon's in 1953, Tip Top Auckland pick up the licence to manufacture the Eskimo Pie. The ice cream would become a mainstay of Tip Top's novelty range, and is still going strong after 90 years.
  • Tip Top launch the Strawberry Toppa - Vanilla ice cream on a stick, coated with a shell of strawberry water ice.
NEXT
Circa 1957
  • Tip Top register the TT-2 trademark to brand a new line of ice blocks. They prove extremely popular and a wide range of colourful TT-2 blocks are launched over the next decade.
NEXT
Late 1950's
  • Moggy Man launches as part of the TT-2 brand and becomes a familiar face on Tip Top packaging and advertising for the next 10-15 years.
NEXT
1960
  • The Wellington and Auckland Tip Top ice cream businesses merge to form a new company, General Foods Corporation (New Zealand), with Len Malaghan as Managing Director.
NEXT
1961 - 1962
  • A new ice cream standard is established. Tip Top return to a minimum butterfat content of 10%. The use of any fat other than milk fat is prohibited.
Next
1962
  • New state of the art Tip Top factory is built in Mt Wellington, Auckland and at the time is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most advanced ice cream factory. It is officially opened by the then Prime Minister Mr. Holyoake, 21st November 1962.
NEXT
Early-mid 1960's
  • The TT-2 Moon Raider is a popular choice among ice cream fans.
NEXT
1964

Tip Top launches the Trumpet, supported by an extensive advertising campaign includling a giant Trumpet at the center of the Panmure roundabout. The Trumpet is available in a single flavour - vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone coated with chocolate & nuts.

Tip Top achieves nationwide distribution - our ice creams are now available around the country!Next

Next
Late 1960's
  • Tip Top is acquired by Watties Industries.
NEXT
1968
  • Tip Top opens its new South Island ice cream factory on Blenheim Road in Christchurch. The factory remains open till 2007.
NEXT
1970's
  • Tip Top launch the Popsicle band. With each rocker representing a different flavour, the band reaches six at its peak.
  • 1980's - Introduction of the band along with the slogan “The coolest and most refreshing band in the land”
  • 1990's - The slogan shifts slightly to appeal to older kids - “The coolest band in the land” and “Do yourself a flavour”
  • 2000s - The Popsicle band record their own song "Straight Up"
NEXT
Late 1970's, early 80's
  • The R2D2 space ice block hits stores to celebrate the release of Star Wars. It's soon joined by new flavours to celebrate the release of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
NEXT
1980's
  • Fruju's famous "Ohh! Ahh! Ooh!" TV commercial airs.
  • The Fame ice block launches to celebrate a film that will become an instant classic.
  • Popsicle Lipstick - an ice blocks for "girls only" - is a popular choice around the country.
NEXT
1985
  • The famous VW Beetle Trumpet ad first appears staring a 16 year old Rachel Hunter.
NEXT
1987
  • Tip Top merges into Goodman Fielder.
NEXT
1991

New Zealands's favourite flavour

Tip Top launches the Boysenberry Trumpet, today's top selling flavour.

Next
1997
  • Tip Top launches the Gooey Caramel Memphis Meltdown, a world-first for our ice cream technologists. The ice cream, using technology patented in the US, features a "triple-dipped" ice cream with a caramel sauce layer between double-coatings of real milk chocolate.
NEXT
2001
  • Tip Top joins Fonterra Co-operative Group, signalling a new period of growth.
NEXT
2010
  • Tip Top produce the world's first novelty ice cream wrapped in marshmallow - the Memphis Meltdown Rocky Road.
NEXT
2013
  • Following a global trend towards synthetic colours and flavours in the late 20th century, Tip Top goes back to its roots, making a commitment to return to all natural colours and flavours.
NEXT
2015
  • Collaboration leads to some delicious new products. "Jelly Tip July" a month-long joint promotion, sees Jelly Tip chocolate launched by Whittaker's, and Jelly Tip biscuits launched by Griffins. A Whittaker's limited edition run of 850,000 x 250g blocks, intended to last for the month, sells out within two weeks.
NEXT
2016
  • Tip Top celebrates its 80th Birthday, releasing a limited edition flavour - Birthday Cake Swirl - a delicious combination of cake and raspberry ice cream, infused with real cake pieces and sprinkles.
  • For the first time in decades, Tip Top Corner temporarily closes for the day on Monday 31 October as staff celebrate.
  • That year, Tip Top produces more than 55 million litres of ice cream, around 4 million Jelly Tips, up to 13 million Trumpets, and nearly 8 million Popsicles.
  • The most popular flavours of the 80th year are:
  • Vanilla (935,000 litres)
  • Boysenberry (313,000 litres)
  • Chocolate (302,000 litres)
NEXT
2018
  • In another successful collab, The Tip Top Whittaker's Ice Cream is launched to the tagline - You Can't Fake Delicious with Pop-up giveaways in Auckland and Wellington. With three indulgent flavours - Vanilla & Cashew Praline, Coffee & Cacao, and Chocolate & Pretzel - the ice cream is designed as the ultimate treat for Chocolate Lovers.
NEXT
2019
  • Tip Top Ice Cream Company was sold by Fonterra to Froneri, a specialist world leading ice cream company originating from the UK.
  • Trumpet Vegan & Gluten Free Boysenberry launched.
NEXT
2020
  • Tip Top Crave 1.2L launched in February with four flavours.
NEXT
2021
  • Fruju Mango launches, Rocky Road Caramel launches.
NEXT
2022
  • New stick line goes into the factory increasing capacity by 50% to future proof for NZ summers.
NEXT
2023
  • New Innovation for Popsicle with the launch of a sorbet shaped product, Fruit Stack, using new chocolate printer capability.
  • Trumpet Minis launches.
  • Limited Edition Fruju x Just Juice Tropical collaboration launches.
NEXT
2024
  • Launched in 1964, the iconic kiwi cone Trumpet marks its 60th Birthday.
  • With aims of providing more choice to New Zealanders, new Tip Top Moments 2L Frozen Dessert Value range hits the market in 3 popular flavours: Chocolate, Vanilla and Neapolitan.
  • Fruju Minis launches.
NEXT
2025

Thanks for exploring
our timeline

Did you know... Tip Top produces more than 35 million litres of ice cream, around 4 million Jelly Tips, over 20 million Trumpets and nearly 8 million Popsicles every year. That’s some serious treat eating going on there. Remember there’s always something exciting happening in the world of ice cream and the next thing could be just around the Tip Top corner.

Back to the top