The story of packaged ice creams that no longer exist Starting with five brands that defined the imagery of the Eighties and Nineties

For a few years now, packaged ice creams have stopped being a commercially interesting and strategic product for the multinationals in the sector. Recently, for example, Nestlé announced its intention to sell its division dedicated to packaged ice creams, which includes very well-known brands – such as Maxibon, Coppa del Nonno and Häagen-Dazs.

One of the main reasons behind this trend concerns the rise in costs of some of the raw materials needed to make packaged ice creams, such as sugar, milk and chocolate – something that has led to a widespread increase in retail prices. In Italy, for example, in 2021 the average price of a packaged ice cream was around 4 euros, while by 2025 it had almost doubled. In order to keep prices unchanged while facing rising production costs, some brands have been forced to reduce the size of their ice creams – an approach known as “shrinkflation”, which is rarely welcomed by consumers.

Because of the rising prices of packaged ice creams, more and more consumers have started to prefer the discount versions sold by their respective supermarkets. In short, the golden age of packaged ice creams from the brands that made the history of the sector seems to have come to an end in some way. And yet, between the Eighties and Nineties, some ice creams became true cultural phenomena, often evoking a very specific imagery. Here, then, are five iconic packaged ice creams that are no longer produced.

Winner Taco

Among the most famous ice cream formats is certainly the Winner Taco, produced by Algida starting from the late Eighties. It was a taco-shaped cone filled with vanilla, caramel and peanut ice cream, covered in chocolate. The product was withdrawn from the Italian market in the early 2000s: the news was met with great dismay, so much so that a few years after Algida stopped producing it, a Facebook page, a hashtag and a campaign were born that managed to get it put back into production, in 2014.

Piedone

Among the most curious and beloved ice creams of the Eighties there was also Piedone ("Bigfoot"), a stick ice cream with an unmistakable silhouette: it's hard to understand why a foot-shaped ice cream would have been so successful, as Wired Italia observed on the subject. The coating was generally made partly of chocolate, while the main part of the product was vanilla-flavored. The product, also because of its shape, was particularly loved by children, who experienced it almost as a game.

Twister

Among the ice creams that marked the Eighties and Nineties there is also the Twister, initially launched by the company Eldorado and later marketed by Algida. Born in 1982, it featured a stick with a two-tone double spiral wrapped around the inner part, often in the chocolate and cream variants. Over time, various versions and flavor combinations have been offered, but the original product – as it was sold decades ago – has now disappeared from bars and Italian beach resorts, and many still remember it today as one of the most recognizable ice creams of that period.

Arcobaleno

Among the most distinctive products of those years there was also the so-called Arcobaleno ("Rainbow") by Eldorado, a popsicle that became famous for its unusual structure. It was in fact made up of four strips side by side, each with a different flavor: cola, strawberry, lemon and mint. The combination of colors and flavors made it one of the most recognizable ice creams of the era, especially among children. The success of Arcobaleno was tied precisely to the possibility of tasting multiple flavors at once, an idea that at the time represented a novelty in the packaged popsicle market.

Puffoghiaccioli

Among the Eighties ice creams most tied to children's imagination there were also the Puffoghiaccioli by Sammontana. Their main feature was precisely their shape, which recalled that of the Smurfs, the characters from the eponymous cartoon that was very popular at the time. The product – one of the first created from an external brand – was available with an orange and lemon combination. Like many products of the era, including precisely Piedone, the Puffoghiaccioli also relied above all on the playful aspect, in an attempt to make eating ice cream something that went beyond a simple snack.