GuangzhouMay 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, Nestlé Ice Cream’s South China production base, Guangzhou Frozen Food Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory”), celebrated its 40th anniversary. This factory was Nestlé Ice Cream’s first ice cream factory invested in China, and classic products such as the iconic cones and Flying Fish Crispy Coating, which have accompanied generations of consumers in South China, are all produced at the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory.
Scene from the 40th anniversary celebration of Guangzhou Frozen Food Co., Ltd. on May 15
Rooted for 40 Years, Walking Side by Side with the Industry
In 1986, against the backdrop of reform and opening-up, Guangzhou Frozen Food Co., Ltd. was established in Guangzhou, becoming one of the earliest enterprises in China to explore modern frozen food production. As China’s ice cream industry evolved from its infancy to large-scale development, the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory began continuously introducing advanced international equipment and production processes from the 1990s, gradually strengthening its manufacturing capabilities and quality systems.
In 2008, the factory was relocated entirely to the Guangzhou Yonghe Development Zone. After the new factory commenced operations, it achieved systematic upgrades in production scale, quality management, and operational systems, elevating its manufacturing capabilities to a new level and gradually becoming one of Nestlé Ice Cream’s important production bases in Asia.
Opening ceremony of the Yonghe new factory in 2008 and related reports
Over the past 40 years, the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory has always moved in the same direction as China’s ice cream industry, adhering to quality and safety as its core, continuously advancing the construction of automated and intelligent production lines, optimizing production technology and product structure, and supporting the upgrade and innovation of multiple products across different periods.
“Relying on the stable and reliable manufacturing and process foundation of the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory, Nestlé Ice Cream products have been able to continuously iterate at different stages and have had a positive impact on the industry’s quality standards and product form evolution,” said Xu Dai, Head of Nestlé Greater China Confectionery and Ice Cream Business Unit.
Advancing Smart Manufacturing Upgrades, Practicing Green Production
Currently, the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory has established an automated and intelligent production system covering multiple stages including ice cream production, cone manufacturing, syrup and chocolate processing, and packaging, continuously improving production stability and large-scale manufacturing capabilities. It has developed into one of Nestlé Group’s largest cone production bases globally.
In the process of continuously enhancing manufacturing capabilities, the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory has also simultaneously advanced green production practices. The Nestlé Ice Cream stick products and hard plastic packaging produced by the factory all use recyclable and regenerable design materials. The factory continues to promote energy conservation, consumption reduction, and the application of renewable electricity, supporting Nestlé Group’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Thanks to its systematic investment in green manufacturing, the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory was recognized as a “National Green Factory” in 2026.
Continuing Classics, Sustaining Innovation
Relying on the stable manufacturing capabilities of the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory, Nestlé Ice Cream continues to build a diversified product matrix in the Chinese market, covering multiple product forms such as cones, sticks, mochi ice cream, and brick-shaped ice cream, launching classic products deeply loved by consumers.
The classic series of ice cream products, which continue to sell well in South China—including Classic Cones, Ice Cream Cups, Flying Fish Crispy Coating, and Traffic Light—continue to deepen their presence in the local market, iterating and upgrading around South China’s consumption habits and taste preferences. This series of products was successfully selected for the “Eat in Guangzhou” list in 2025, becoming the first foreign brand to be selected. This honor is not only a recognition of product quality but also reflects the deep affection and recognition of Nestlé Ice Cream among South China consumers.
While continuing classics, Nestlé Ice Cream is also constantly expanding brand boundaries and actively exploring category innovation. In 2026, the Nestlé Octopus launched a new mint chocolate flavor, deeply loved by young consumers. The Flower Heart Cone has been fully upgraded with a flowing core filling, while Oreo and Qiaoqiaosha perfectly replicate classics, launching innovative sandwich forms and dual-flavor stick packs. Additionally, the classic return of the Water Ice series comprehensively showcases the brand’s innovation and manufacturing strength. At the same time, the brand accurately captures the growth trend of freshly made tea beverages, leveraging customized products for the food service channel and linking with tea and coffee formats to create co-branded combinations, becoming an industry B-end service benchmark.
In addition to product innovation, the brand continues to increase marketing innovation. In 2026, the Nestlé Octopus MBTI Colorful Personality Box was fully upgraded and refreshed, incorporating lyrics from over ten musicians/bands into the packaging and engaging in deep interactions at Z-generation social scenes such as music festivals, continuously enhancing the brand’s online exposure and favorability among young consumers. Nestlé Ice Cream also sponsored the popular football event “Scottish Premiership,” using sports scenarios to amplify brand voice, and collaborated with the popular IP “Capybara Little Yellow Pig” for fun scene-based marketing, launching the “Cute Pig Companion, Enjoy Cool Refreshment” themed marketing campaign, strengthening the “fun and flavorful” ice cream experience, closely connecting with Generation Z across multiple scenarios.
Standing at a New Starting Point, Looking to the Future
Standing at the new starting point of its 40th anniversary, Nestlé Ice Cream stated that in the future, it will continue to rely on the stable, safe, and intelligent production foundation of the Guangzhou Frozen Food Factory. Under the premise of strictly controlling food safety and quality, it will continue to promote product innovation and brand development, providing consumers with more high-quality ice cream choices.