Ice cream benefited from the warm weather of summer 2013, experiencing an almost 7% jump in year-on-year value sales and a 3.5% rise in volumes. This follows a sluggish performance in 2012, when poor weather (the second wettest summer on record) dented sales, value performance also suffering from the high levels of discounting.

Desserts continue to see a volume decline as consumers cut back because of health or cost. Chilled desserts have maintained the lead in the overall desserts market over ambient and frozen formats. This is despite the segment experiencing a value and volume decline in sales over 2012-13 in line with the wider market, both likely losing out to ice cream owing to the soaring temperatures of summer 2013.

Flavour trends have been widely explored by operators in the ice cream and desserts market, looking to cater to adventurous palates and continuously refresh their offering. Coffee, dessert and alcohol-inspired flavours have been widely seen across NPD in the ice cream and desserts market, appealing to adult tastes.

Events such as the Brazil-based World Cup have presented scope for innovation around South American flavours. The Rio Olympics in 2016 should provide longevity to this interest, suggesting further scope for innovation around South American flavours.

Snacking continues to be one of the dominant consumer trends driving the food industry. Ice cream brands are looking to position their products as suitable for the snacking occasion and drive usage of ice cream as a year-round treat.

This report covers take-home and impulse 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 similar 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 including 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 2014 prices are devised using Mintel’s food deflator.

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