Ice sales soar as British people continue their love story with cool | Food

High-end ice cream and new vegan flavors are among the hottest trends of the summer, as consumers are looking for more artisbad and healthier versions – but do not worry; There is still plenty of room in the freezer for childhood favorites like Fab lollipops.

Last week's high temperatures boosted ice cream sales in the UK, but still increased by 3% over the past year, with the British eating more and more ice cream during the winter. summer. The arrival of big low-calorie brands such as Halo Top as well as a growing number of niche brands such as Sambazon – which this year claimed a first with its recoverable acai berry puree – and luxury Gelato brand Remeo Gelato is attracting market interest worth £ 1.1 billion a year.

Isabel Bourke, an badyst at Kantar, who follows trends in the grocery market, said that ice cream had become a "gold mine" for food manufacturers, as consumers became more adventurous in their tastes. "Buyers are really ready to try new things, which makes them a gold mine for manufacturers who can have more confidence in launching new products," she said.

"Some of the most successful launches in the entire food and beverage industry are ice cream, like Halo Top, and a lot of success comes from trendy products that appeal to younger customers, especially if it's colorful. or fun. design that could look good on Instagram. "

With its smart digital marketing campaigns that span the millennia, Halo Top has emerged as one of the top 10 largest ice cream brands in the UK in terms of commercial value although it only happened in the UK. in 2018. The American brand has gained legions of adept by posing as calorie, high protein and low sugar "alternative to traditional brands, with a recipe that uses stevia sugar substitute.

However, despite the growing number of options on the market, the major ice cream brands in the UK market remain loyal to Magnum – the country's favorite, according to a recent YouGov poll. The brand owned by Unilever is certainly the best-selling brand in the UK. The British paid £ 192 million in the year before January 26, according to data compiled by Nielsen badysts. Surprisingly, the Fab lolly – which has been around since 1967 – came in second in the YouGov poll, joining Solero in the hearts of 1,000 consumers surveyed.

There is also evidence of the growing popularity of veganism, with sales of 'free' products, which include vegan options, up 26%. Ben & Jerry's is one of the brands that has created vegan versions of its popular flavors such as chocolate brownie.

"Health trends are found in ice cream as elsewhere and many buyers are turning to the sector to find something that seems forgiving, but also healthy – options such as low-grade options in calories or even brands fortified with protein, that they can incorporate more frequently into their diet. "

As in other segments of the food market, consumers have been willing to pay more for high-end products, encouraging the entry of new brands. Kantar figures show that sales of luxury ice cream brands such as Häagen-Dazs and Green & Black's have jumped 8% in the past year.