For nearly three decades, Sue Ann Nobbs, Quality Assurance Manager at the Magnum Ice Cream Company in Simcoe, has watched Ontario’s dairy sector grow — one scoop at a time.
Starting at the local factory in 1995, Nobbs has seen the plant evolve from a small operation into a major producer under Unilever’s global ice cream division, home to brands like Magnum, Breyers, Ben & Jerry’s, and Popsicle.
Despite the international reach, Knobbs says the heart of the operation remains local — with much of the milk, cream, and other ingredients coming from Ontario dairy producers.
Nobbs explained that while the science of making ice cream hasn’t changed much over the years, the technology has.
High-tech equipment now allows the Simcoe facility to produce larger volumes more efficiently while maintaining the same rich taste and quality Canadians expect.
She adds that the newly rebranded Magnum Ice Cream Company brings renewed focus and excitement to the craft by putting all the experts in ice cream under one banner so they can innovate faster and bring new flavours and fun ideas to consumers.
That includes possibility revisiting classic flavours that customers still ask for decades later.
Nobbs also points to the craftsmanship behind products like Ben & Jerry’s, which she calls “a mighty little container.”
As part of Norfolk County’s long-standing agricultural roots, the Simcoe facility continues to be a vital link between Ontario’s dairy farmers and households across North America — proof that local ingredients can make a global impact.