Ice cream and frozen desserts firm Glacier stumps up €45m with focus on automation and innovation
Glacier, a European pureplay manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured ice cream and frozen desserts, has announced a €45 million investment programme that, it says, will expand production capacity, accelerate innovation and support international growth across its operations.
This will fund two new production lines in Italy to expand capacity in high growth product categories, alongside investment in additional warehousing, automation capabilities and upgrades to cooling facilities at its Langemark site in Belgium.
The new production lines will be dedicated to extruded ice creams and linear moulded ice lollies, to meet growing consumer demand for fruit-based ice creams that offer a lighter, lower calorie alternative. The first line will produce spiral ice cream lollies and fruit coated sticks, doubling the company’s manufacturing capacity in these formats. The second will expand Glacier’s water ice capabilities, increasing manufacturing speed while enabling the production of lollies with up to seven layered flavours.
Longer term, Glacier is in the process of creating a dedicated innovation centre at its Cavriago site in Italy, establishing a collaborative space where customers can co-develop, refine and test new products alongside the company’s innovation teams. The site is currently in its final design stage with plans for completion by the end of the year.
The new facility will, according to those involved, accelerate the speed at which Glacier can bring products to market, strengthen its product development capabilities and feature a multi-sensory kitchen and interactive studio where customers can taste new concepts while watching the product development process.
Matt Frost, Managing Director at Glacier, says: “Consumer expectations of ice cream continue to evolve, with growing demand for premium products, exciting new formats and lighter, fruit-based options that don't compromise on enjoyment. This investment strengthens our ability to respond to those trends, from expanding our fast growing bites portfolio to creating more innovative water ice and extruded products. Combined with our continued investment in innovation, it ensures we can help our retail and brand partners bring differentiated products to market more quickly than ever before."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Automation will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
