Table of Contents
Overview
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- What you need to know
- Products covered in this Report
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- Figure 1: Examples of products included in each segment, China, 2017
- Definition
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- Figure 2: Mintel’s definition of different income groups, China
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Trading up driving further retail value growth in spite of volume decline
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- Figure 3: Retail market value and volume of packaged ice cream, China, 2013-17
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- Figure 4: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail ice cream market, by value, China, 2012-22
- Family occasions suggesting scope for sharing packs
- Retail market facing challenge from on-trade channels
- Key players
- Regional brands seeking expansion nationwide
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- Figure 5: Leading companies’ share of retail ice cream market, China, 2015 and 2016
- Ingredients of high quality with a natural note appealing to consumers
- The consumer
- Less consumption but more diverse occasions
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- Figure 6: Ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, China, March 2017
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- Figure 7: Change of occasion of packaged ice cream consumption, China, 2015-17
- Thriving non-retail channels urge upgrade of retail products
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- Figure 8: Purchasing channels of ice cream in the last 12 months, China, March 2017
- Better-for-you options as more popular premium features
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- Figure 9: Premium features of ice cream, China, March 2017
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Revival of nostalgic brands
- The facts
- The implications
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- Figure 10: Price of Zhongjie’s regular products and Zhongjie 1946’s products, China, 2013 and 2016
- Figure 11: Dongbeidaban’s old-fashioned packaging, China, 2016
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- Figure 12: Nostalgic ice cream product using glass packaging, China, 2017
- Fruit-based products as mood food for young males
- The facts
- The implications
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- Figure 13: Fruit-flavoured product claiming to use high pressure processed technology, Taiwan, 2016
- Tap into family occasion with more indulgent and safer products
- The facts
- The implications
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- Figure 14: All-natural product targeting family consumption, UK, 2017
- Figure 15: Products with fortified nutrition, targeting kids, Spain, 2016
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- Figure 16: Multipack with assorted flavours, US and Japan, 2016-17
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Declining consumption bringing down retail volume
- Retail market facing challenge from on-trade channels
Market Size and Forecast
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- Declining volume consumption due to health-consciousness
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- Figure 17: Retail market value and volume of packaged ice cream, china, 2013-17
- Premiumisation driving growth of market value
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- Figure 18: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail ice cream market, by value, China, 2012-22
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- Figure 19: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail ice cream market, by volume, China, 2012-22
Market Segmentation
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- Tub/cup pack and multipack driven by family consumption
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- Figure 20: Häagen-Dazs’ commercial picturing a girl enjoying a spoonful of tub pack ice cream, China, 2016
- Figure 21: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail tub/cup segment, by value, China, 2012-22
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- Figure 22: Zhongjie 1946’s 18 pieces combo featuring eight flavours, China, 2017
- Figure 23: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail multipacks segment, by value, China, 2012-22
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- Figure 24: Multipack of Baxy ice cream tubs with different flavours, China, 2017
- Premiumisation of individually wrapped products
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- Figure 25: Volume share of segments, China, 2016
- Figure 26: Individually wrapped premium products in carton box, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, 2016
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- Figure 27: Best- and worst-case forecast of retail individually wrapped segment, by value, China, 2012-22
Market Factors
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- Lack of exciting launches, challenge from chilled dessert
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- Figure 28: Country share of ice cream new launches, China, US, Japan, Brazil, UK and India, 2014-16
- Figure 29: Proportion of new launches in chilled dessert and ice cream, China, 2012-17
- Change of lifestyle facilitating the growth of on-trade sales
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- Figure 30: Zhongjie 1946’s stores in Shanghai, applying different design styles, China, 2016
- A few countries increasingly exporting ice cream to China
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- Figure 31: Import volume of ice cream, by country, 2015 and 2016
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- Figure 32: Various types of imported ice cream products from Russia on e-commercial platform, China, 2017
- Figure 33: Mengniu’s Russian-style ice cream, China, 2017
Key Players – What You Need to Know
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- Top players fighting for maintaining edge
- Ingredients of high quality with a natural note appealing to consumers
- Indulgent variants urging more sophisticated approach in R&D
Market Share
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- Top two local players facing great challenge from foreign competitors
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- Figure 34: Leading companies’ share of retail ice cream market, China, 2015 and 2016
- Historical brands in the North seeking expansion
- Foreign brands increasing investment in China
- Regional dairy enterprises stepping in
Competitive Strategies
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- More yogurt-flavoured product innovation to borrow yogurt fans
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- Figure 35: Proportion of yogurt-flavoured products in ice cream and some snack categories, China, 2014-16
- Figure 36: Yogurt ice cream with detailed information on its manufacturing process, China, 2016
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- Figure 37: Mengniu’s yogurt-flavoured ice cream products under the same brand, China, 2014 and 2016
- Figure 38: McDonald’s promotion on its yogurt-flavoured cone, China, 2016
- Be specific about milk source to win quality seekers
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- Figure 39: Proportion of milk content usage in new launches of ice cream, China, 2012-16
- Figure 40: Products with detailed information on the content of raw milk, China, 2016
- Less artificial colouring but no compromise on rich experience
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- Figure 41: Proportion of food additives and colourings usage in new launches, China, 2012-16
- Figure 42: Products using beneficial emulsifier or no emulsifier, Japan and Denmark, 2016-17
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- Figure 43: Products using natural colours, China and South Korea, 2016-17
- Lowering sugar content and using natural sweetener
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- Figure 44: Average sugar content of select categories, China, US, UK, Brazil and Japan, 2014-16
- Figure 45: Products using natural ingredients as source of sweetness, US and Peru, 2016-17
Who’s Innovating?
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- Multi-layered experience delivered through melting texture
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- Figure 46: Texture of ice cream new launches, China and Japan, 2016
- Figure 47: Products claiming to have melting ingredients inside, Japan and France, 2016
- Visual appeal – To enhance fruit-flavoured products
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- Figure 48: Proportion of new ice cream launches of select fruit flavours, global vs China, 2014-16
- Figure 49: Durian ice cream emphasising the usage of Musang King durian, which is known for its high quality, China, 2017
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- Figure 50: Products using fruit image instead of ice cream itself, South Africa, Poland and France, 2016
- Figure 51: Sherbet in real fruits in Shenzhen, China, 2016
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- Figure 52: Product using transparent packaging, China, US and UK, 2016-17
- Adult-oriented offering to add sophistication
- Alcohol flavour
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- Figure 53: Proportion of alcohol-flavoured ice cream among new launches, China, US, UK and Japan, 2014-16
- Figure 54: Alcohol-flavoured ice cream and popsicles, China and UK, 2016-17
- Coffee flavour
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- Figure 55: Coffee-flavoured ice cream with attractive features, UK, US and Czech Republic, 2014-17
- Detox
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- Figure 56: Products with detoxing claims, Brazil and US, 2015-16
- Customisation as in-store charm
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- Figure 57: Cho Collector’s ice cream menu, China, 2017
- Figure 58: Bistopping in Seoul, featuring visually appealing cones, South Korea, 2015
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- Figure 59: Uji matcha’s ice cream menu, China, 2016
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- Declining consumption urging upgraded offering
- Lower price sensitivity towards ice cream for rewarding
- Trading up for better-for-you versions
Ice Cream Consumption
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- Drop of usage of almost all types of ice cream
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- Figure 60: Change of ice cream consumption, by consumer classification, China, 2015-17
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- Figure 61: Ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, China, March 2017
- Females in their thirties and forties losing interest in ice cream
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- Figure 62: Ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, by type, China, March 2017
- Figure 63: Ice cream consumption ranking in the last 12 months, by gender and age, China, March 2017
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- Figure 64: Types of ice cream consumed, China, March 2017
- More ice cream fans in Beijing
- Upgraded offering needed for those working in foreign enterprises
Occasion of Consumption
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- Non-packaged ice cream with social function
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- Figure 65: Occasion of ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, China, March 2017
- Ice cream becoming more a snack and dessert at home
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- Figure 66: Change of occasion of packaged ice cream consumption, China, 2015-17
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- Figure 67: Ice cream bites, Japan, 2017
- Packaged ice cream as mood food for young males
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- Figure 68: Ranking of different occasions of packaged ice cream, by gender and age, China, March 2017
- Figure 69: Ice Cream Clinic, china, 2017
- Ice cream in snack format appealing to consumers in tier one cities
Purchasing Channel
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- Non-retail channel’s growth explaining the decline of retail consumption
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- Figure 70: Purchasing channels of ice cream in the last 12 months, China, March 2017
- Significant growth of online channels
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- Figure 71: Change of select purchasing channels of ice cream, China, 2012-17
- Non-soft-serve types in fast food channels to attract young males
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- Figure 72: Ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, by gender and age, China, March 2017
- Young females favouring dessert shop and convenience store
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- Figure 73: Select purchasing channels of ice cream, by gender and age, China, March 2017
- Figure 74: Family Mart’s soft-serve ice cream, China, 2017
- Different preference on channels among tier one cities
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- Figure 75: Select purchasing channels of ice cream, by city, China, March 2017
Price Sensitivity
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- Ice cream as mood food deserving higher price
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- Figure 76: Highest price one would like to pay for ice cream (weighted average), by occasion/need, China, March 2017
- Females aged 20-24’s polarised attitudes towards different occasions
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- Figure 77: Proportion of consumers who prefer to pay less than ¥5 in select occasions, by gender and age, China, March 2017
- Figure 78: Proportion of consumers who prefer to pay more than ¥20 in select occasions, by gender and age, China, March 2017
- Consumers in Shanghai paying for rewarding themselves
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- Figure 79: Highest price one would like to pay for ice cream (weighted average price) in select occasions, by city, China, March 2017
Premium Features
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- Better-for-you options as most popular features
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- Figure 80: Premium features of ice cream, China, March 2017
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- Figure 81: Gelato brand claiming to use only pure milk and 35% of single cream, containing no trans-fat, with only half of the fat content of regular ice cream, China, 2017
- Figure 82: Products with slow-melting claim, Russia and Denmark, 2016-17
- Enhanced sensorial experience to be embraced by young consumers
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- Figure 83: Select premium features of ice cream, by age, China, March 2017
- Figure 84: Chocolate-filled cone, Japan, 2016
- Opting for healthy version but no compromise on enjoyment
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- Figure 85: Select premium features of ice cream, by city, China, March 2017
- Preference of lovers of different types of ice cream
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- Figure 86: Cremia ice cream from KFC, claiming to have 12.5% of milk fat, China, 2016
Interest in Niche Ice Cream Types
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- Innovative ice cream types having their own fan groups
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- Figure 87: Interest in niche ice cream types, China, March 2017
- Scope for sorbet and sherbet among young males
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- Figure 88: Interest in select niche ice cream types, by gender and age, March 2017
- Figure 89: Products claiming to have real fruit juice or purée, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan, 2016
- Unique experience attracting consumers in Chengdu
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- Figure 90: Consumers’ ranking of select niche types of ice cream, by city, China, March 2017
- Figure 91: Products in dessert formats (cake, macaron and crepe), Germany, South Korea and Japan, 2016
Meet the Mintropolitans
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- MinTs more attached to ice cream
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- Figure 92: Ice cream consumption in the last 12 months, by consumer classification, China, March 2017
- Better in-store ambience appealing to MinTs
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- Figure 93: Select purchasing channels of ice cream in the last 12 months, by consumer classification, China, March 2017
- Figure 94: Select premium features of ice cream, by consumer classification, China, March 2017
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- Figure 95: Icefood’s poster in front of its store, China, 2017
Appendix – Market Size and Forecast
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- Figure 96: Value sales of China’s ice cream retail market, 2012-22
- Figure 97: Volume sales of China’s ice cream retail market, 2012-22
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Appendix – Market Segmentation
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- Figure 98: Value sales of China’s ice cream retail market, by segment, 2012-22
- Figure 99: Volume sales of China’s ice cream retail market, by segment, 2012-22
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Appendix – Methodology, Definition, and Abbreviations
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- Methodology
- Fan chart forecast
- Abbreviations
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