Volume sales of ice cream and desserts are in long-term decline, suggesting that these products are being eaten less often. While health concerns are nothing new, the ongoing sugar debate which started in 2014 and put this issue firmly on people’s radars has put these products under more intense pressure.

It is not all doom and gloom, however, with some brands in the ice cream market including Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s posting strong performances.

This report covers take-home and impulse retail sales of ice cream, as well as sorbets and frozen yogurts. It also examines the UK retail market for chilled, ambient and frozen desserts.

It excludes sales through foodservice establishments.

Impulse ice cream is defined as single-serve ice cream purchased for immediate consumption, including wrapped handheld ice cream products, including chocolate bars, ice cream cones, chocolate stick products, tubs and cups. Water ices and ice lollies are not strictly speaking ‘ice cream’ but are generally regarded as such and thus are another part of the handheld sector.

Take-home ice cream is defined as any product that comprises primarily ice cream and is intended for consumption in the home, including dairy ice cream and non-dairy ice cream of all flavours retailed in multiple serving packs (500ml or over) and multipacks of single-serve items.

Desserts include chilled, ambient and frozen variants, as well as ice cream-based desserts like Viennetta.

Chilled desserts includes all types of chilled desserts such as dairy-based desserts, chilled custard, fruit compote, mousse, panna cotta and (prepared) puddings.

Frozen desserts include for example frozen cakes, sponge puddings, cheesecake, gateaux, Pavlova, dessert toppings and traditional puddings. Also includes ice cream-based desserts like Viennetta.

Ambient desserts include dessert ingredients (eg sweet condensed milk, evaporated milk, custard, jelly, ice cream accompaniments), dessert ready mixes (eg mousse, blancmange, toppings) and ready-to-eat desserts (eg RTE custard, RTE jelly, rice pudding, sponge pudding, fruit pots).

Shelf-stable cakes and Christmas puddings are excluded.

Value figures throughout this report are at retail selling prices (rsp) unless stated otherwise. Market sizes at constant 2015 prices are devised using Mintel’s food deflator.

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