87% of respondents with kids under 18 would buy ice cream specially designed for children. Among the fastest growing major snack categories, ice cream can further tap into parents’ demand for customised products for their children.

According to Mintel’s Impact of COVID-19 in Chinese Consumer – May, 2022, 44% of consumers have stocked up on snacks and 40% for dairy products in the past three months, ranking after convenient meal solutions, fresh produce and cooking condiments. Growing time spent at home may benefit in-home consumption of packaged ice cream, which is among consumers’ primary considerations whether they’re happy, nostalgic, anxious, lonely or encountering setbacks.

Ice cream has become a popular category for entry by adjacent food and drink brands such as Mars and Maotai. In addition, new retail brand Hema also collaborated with coffee house Tims Hortons and plant-based drink brand Oatly in launching ice cream products with its iconic hippo face. The entry of new players will intensify the competition within the category and change the competitive landscape.

Although taste is of most importance when choosing ice cream, it’s important for ice cream brands to cater to the healthy evolution trend which has already taken place in other food and drink categories under the growing priority of healthy eating. TURF analysis shows that if only two factors were considered, 81% of respondents think “flavour” and “nutrition” are most important to them when choosing packaged ice cream, revealing the importance of fortified nutrition in further encouraging consumption.

• Future market outlook and growth prospects in the next five years

• COVID-19’s impact on the ice cream market and market value forecast under different scenarios

• Latest product trends and growth opportunities

• Consumption trends and changes in product usage

• Perception of different ice cream formats

• Choice factor and preferred flavours when making purchase decisions

The market size covers all packaged ice cream, sorbets and water ices in individually wrapped and multipack format. Popsicles, bricks, sandwiches, cups, tubs, and buckets are included. Frozen yogurt is also included.

The market value and volume comprise sales through all retail channels including direct to consumer.

Unwrapped items eg ice cream in cones; scoops (out of tub) at ice cream parlours; desserts eg frozen cakes.

For the purpose of this Report, Mintel divides consumers into three groups based on their consumption frequency: those consuming ‘once a week or more’ or ‘1-3 time a month’ as heavy users, those ‘once every 2-3 months’ as medium users, and those ‘once every 6 months or less’ as light users.

Mintel divides consumers into three groups based on their monthly household income (MHI).

• High household income is defined as MHI above RMB18,000 in tier 1 cities, or above RMB16,000 in tier 2 cities or below

• Middle household income is defined as MHI of RMB10,000-18,000 in tier 1 cities, or RMB9,000-16,000 in tier 2 cities or below

• Low household income is defined as MHI of RMB6,000-10,000 in tier 1 cities, or below RMB5,000-9,000 in tier 2 cities or below