Australian shop owner finds nearly 30-year-old Magnum Ego ice cream in freezer

Ash Stanbridge posted the discovery on social media, sparking load of memories of the Magnum Ego.

The original Magnum Ego has been a quintessential ice cream in Australian households for decades — a perfect summer's day snack for millions across the country.

The much-loved ice cream was introduced in 1998, but was discontinued earlier this year, to the surprise of many.

However, last week, a regional Victorian shop owner struck gold, accidentally stumbling upon an almost 30-year-old Magnum Ego tucked away in the back of his freezer.

Ash Stanbridge, the owner of the Kolmar House General Store in Harrow, in Victoria's south-west, discovered the original Magnum Ego from the late '90s.

"At first I was a bit amazed and in a bit of disbelief," he said.

"I was just routinely clearing out a freezer and, as you do, you're chipping away at it and the ice and there was something underneath that I saw and noticed the old logo and the old wrapper and I'm like, 'Well, that's been here a while’.

"And, amazingly, it was still solid and intact; so frozen in time."

The general store has more than 145 years of history but Stanbridge took over the business just 10 months ago.

The famed freezer treat he discovered was a big favourite with ice cream lovers, consisting of a stick of vanilla ice cream covered in a thin milk chocolate layer, then a caramel layer and then an outer shell of milk chocolate.

"I was a kid in the late 90s and I remember it being a pretty big deal at the time. It was that sort of top-tier ultimate ice cream that people went crazy for," he said.

"So, as soon as I saw that wrapper, those sorts of memories came flooding back.

"I remember Friday night ice cream runs to the servo with the family, and we were definitely a Magnum family. I remember the Ego just being that top-tier supreme one."

Stanbridge took to social media to post the discovery, which went viral, but unlike some courageous individuals in the comments, he said he wasn't brave enough to eat it.

"I ate two a day for a week when they came out," one commented on a Reddit feed.

While another said they "still look for them, and they've been gone for so long", while others recalled walking their "dog 10 times for one Magnum Ego".

Stanbridge had contacted the Magnum Ice Cream company about his find, and it is looking into it.

"Australians have been sharing stories, memories and tributes to Magnum Ego, reminding us just how special the product remains to so many people," the company said.

"We've loved seeing the conversation unfold and hearing people's memories of one of Australia's most iconic ice creams.

"For now, all we can say is watch this space."

More historic items found

The finds did not stop with the ice cream. Stanbridge managed to uncover multiple souvenirs from over the decades, in the same storeroom the freezer was in.

"I found old chip packets, again from the 80s and 90s," he said.

"I found a flavoured milk that was still sealed, but with no liquid on the inside, so the liquid had disappeared."

Stanbridge was in no rush to throw them away, keeping many of the items, which were all part of his store's unique history.

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