Viennetta
Encyclopedia
Viennetta is an ice cream
product made in Unilever
factories and sold under the various Heartbrand logos around the world. It was launched first by Wall's
in 1982 using a technique devised by Kevin Hillman, development manager at Wall's' Gloucester factory.
The original Viennetta was a multi-layered product comprising layers of vanilla ice cream with sprayed on 'chocolate' layers. The layers of ice cream were extruded, one after another, onto trays sitting on a moving belt. The rate of extrusion was greater than the speed of the belt which caused a deliberate 'bunching' of the ice cream; each layer was extruded at a different speed to the previous layer. The final effect was akin to a series of waves rippling through the product. This visual aspect combined with the in-the-mouth contrast of the smooth ice cream covered in crisp 'chocolate' to give the product an instant appeal.
Launched originally as a multi-portion dessert product, it has been so successful that Unilever, owners of Wall's, has produced many flavour and size variants, turning Viennetta into a worldwide multi million euro
brand. Viennetta is sparsely available in the United States. However, Unilever no longer produces the brand in Canada.
The Viennetta was previously known as Comtessa in Spain
due to a legal problem. It became Viennetta in the 1990s.
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
product made in Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
factories and sold under the various Heartbrand logos around the world. It was launched first by Wall's
Wall's (company)
Wall's is a United Kingdom-originated food brand, covering both meat products and ice cream, owned by Unilever. Founded in London in 1786 by butcher Richard Wall, it was acquired in 1922 by Lever Brothers, which became a part of Unilever in 1930. To avoid summer lay-offs due to the down turn in its...
in 1982 using a technique devised by Kevin Hillman, development manager at Wall's' Gloucester factory.
The original Viennetta was a multi-layered product comprising layers of vanilla ice cream with sprayed on 'chocolate' layers. The layers of ice cream were extruded, one after another, onto trays sitting on a moving belt. The rate of extrusion was greater than the speed of the belt which caused a deliberate 'bunching' of the ice cream; each layer was extruded at a different speed to the previous layer. The final effect was akin to a series of waves rippling through the product. This visual aspect combined with the in-the-mouth contrast of the smooth ice cream covered in crisp 'chocolate' to give the product an instant appeal.
Launched originally as a multi-portion dessert product, it has been so successful that Unilever, owners of Wall's, has produced many flavour and size variants, turning Viennetta into a worldwide multi million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
brand. Viennetta is sparsely available in the United States. However, Unilever no longer produces the brand in Canada.
The Viennetta was previously known as Comtessa in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
due to a legal problem. It became Viennetta in the 1990s.
External links
- Video of the making of Viennetta. Accessed February 2008