In what represents the most significant brand extension in the product’s 62-year history, Ferrero North America and Wells Enterprises have officially announced the nationwide rollout of Nutella Ice Cream. Announced in mid-May 2026, the launch brings the iconic hazelnut-cocoa spread into the freezer aisle across all 50 states, utilizing a “real ingredient” formulation strategy designed to capture premium frozen dessert market share.
The rollout marks a major operational milestone since Ferrero acquired Le Mars, Iowa-based Wells Enterprises, the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States—leveraging Wells’ massive domestic manufacturing footprint and distribution network to scale the product at national volume.
The “Real Nutella” Ingredient Architecture
The core commercial differentiator of the new line is its anchoring consumer claim: “the only ice cream made with real Nutella®.” Rather than engineering a standard Nutella-flavored homogenized base, the product architecture incorporates actual Nutella layers and swirls distributed throughout a smooth, creamy ice cream.
From an R&D and food engineering perspective, this formulation requires precise viscosity controls. The inclusion system must allow the real hazelnut-cocoa spread to be pumped and layered during high-speed production runs at Wells’ facilities, yet maintain a distinct, semi-solid, melt-in-your-mouth texture at standard commercial freezer temperatures (-18°C / 0°F) without bleeding into the dairy ice cream base.
The lineup is hitting retail shelves in two distinct formats to target different consumer use-cases:
- 14-Fluid-Ounce Pints: Tailored for at-home sharing and multi-textured premium spoonability. Available for a suggested retail price (SRP) starting at $4.36.
- 3.04-Fluid-Ounce Single-Serve Cones: Positioned for on-the-go and impulse purchases, featuring a crispy wafer cone packed with Nutella swirls. Available in a 4-pack with an SRP starting at $5.47.
“Nutella is one of the most trusted flavors in the world and our job was simple: don’t mess it up,” said Isabella Chia, Chief Marketing Officer at Wells Enterprises. “Every decision we made was in service of delivering exactly what fans expect, now in a format they can enjoy straight from the freezer.”
Strategic Context: Aggressive U.S. Brand Extensions
The nationwide freezer-aisle debut comes during an exceptionally aggressive spring for Ferrero’s flagship spread. Just weeks prior, the brand announced its first-ever permanent flavor expansion with Nutella Peanut.
The dual launches highlight a coordinated domestic manufacturing strategy. While the peanut spread extension communicates local infrastructure investment at Ferrero’s Franklin Park plant, the ice cream launch leverages the sheer scale of Wells Enterprises’ 200-million-gallon annual capacity. By using U.S.-based production to support both rollouts, Ferrero is securing logistical efficiencies while fulfilling a long-standing consumer habit, packaged ice cream that replicates the homemade trend of swirling Nutella straight into vanilla tubs.
“Nutella has been a beloved part of people’s lives for more than 60 years and bringing it to the freezer aisle is a milestone moment fans have been waiting for,” added Noah Szporn, Senior Vice President of Nutella, Ferrero North America.
Capitalizing on Premiumization and Retail Incremental Growth
For retail category managers, the joint venture addresses a highly lucrative market segment. NielsenIQ and Circana data indicate that the premium pint segment currently commands over 75% of total pint sales. Furthermore, previous co-branded frozen innovations from Wells, such as their Ice Cream Candy Bars, generated over $18 million in their first nine months, with 40% of those sales proving entirely incremental to the frozen category rather than cannibalizing existing SKUs.
By inserting a global household name into a high-margin, texturally complex format, Wells Enterprises and Ferrero are well-positioned to drive substantial basket-size expansion through the peak summer season. To support the launch, the brand is running a national social media and digital campaign called “Freezer Fridays” throughout the month.
FAQs
What makes Nutella Ice Cream different from regular chocolate hazelnut ice cream?
The product is uniquely formulated as “the only ice cream made with real Nutella®.” Instead of just using a replication flavor, it integrates actual layers and swirls of the signature hazelnut-cocoa spread into a dairy cream base.
What formats and sizes are available at retail?
It is sold in 14-fluid-ounce multi-serve containers (tubs) and 3.04-fluid-ounce single-serve crispy wafer cones (sold in 4-packs).
What is the price of the new Nutella Ice Cream?
The suggested retail price starts at $4.36 for the 14-oz tub and $5.47 for the 4-pack of single-serve cones, varying slightly by retail channel and location.
Who manufactures the product?
The line is manufactured and distributed by Wells Enterprises in Le Mars, Iowa. Wells operates as an independent operating subsidiary of the Ferrero Group and produces other major brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, and Bomb Pop.
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