Abstract
The ice cream market is worth £1.25 billion, an increase of 8% from 2002. However, the market peaked in 2006, after an extremely long hot summer, at £1.33 billion. Following this peak, 2007 was a less successful year, with overall value down just under 7%, a direct effect of an unfavorable summer.
This has highlighted the correlation between ice cream sales and weather, and has ensured that the primary challenge for the ice cream market is to grow occasions outside the summer months and move away from being just a refreshing cool-down or a standby desert.
The consumer is increasingly conscious about what they eat, both in terms of evolved health, ie natural and functional foods, and in terms of ethics and provenance. Innovations from the ice cream industry have raised its game in order to meet these challenges with products like Frusi and Fruit Crunch as well as more extensions of the Green & Black' s brand and more ethical products from Ben & Jerry' s.
Packaging innovations and mini bites have ensured that ice cream has the potential to be eaten at a far more varied range of occasions, instead of yogurts, breakfast bars chocolates or cookies.
Children' s consumption of ice cream has been falling and re-engaging them in the category will be crucial if current consumption levels are to be maintained in the future.
Mintel last examined the UK market for ice cream in January 2006.
View Cart
