2020 Ice Cream Industry Trends

2020 Ice Cream Industry Trends

The summers are almost upon us and what better way to cool down in hot weather than grabbing a tub of ice cream! However, the usual supermarket selection can be a bit dull for a real connoisseur of ice cream.

So, our partners Marketing Media Plus did the research to find out what’s in-store for ice cream lovers across the nation – and we have some exciting news. Let’s just say that the global ice cream market has a thriving future as the industry is expected to grow by 5%, with global revenues amounting to $20.2 billion in 2024. In the UK alone, the reported revenue was £450 million in 2019 for 34 ice cream businesses! So, it's no secret that everyone and their mom love ice cream.

Here are some exciting trends that’ll drive new products in 2020 – and we can’t wait to try a scoop of each!

10 Trends For The Ice Cream Industry In 2020

The researchers over at Marketing Media Plus looked at the hottest Instagram trends, analysed market sentiments, talked to ice cream sellers, and made sense of the ice cream frenzy that’ll inundate us this year.

Here’s what they discovered:

1. Low-Calorie Options

Though a delicious dessert, ice creams come packed with calories, fat, and sugar – it is estimated that a vanilla scoop has 137 calories, 7.2 grams fat, and 15.5 grams of carbs.

With obesity and other health-related risks on the rise, many people have a guilty conscience when they consume ice cream.

Now, people prefer buying ice cream with a low-calorie count, and many brands who have realised this are showcasing the number of calories in large font on the packaging.

2. Dairy-Free Ice Cream – Something For The Vegans

A survey revealed that 28% of people between the ages of 18 to 24 and 16% of people aged 25 to 34 are reducing their dairy intake.  Plus, one or two people out of every ten people are lactose intolerant. To top it all, in Great Britain alone, there are more than 600,000 vegans.

No surprise that there are so many non-dairy frozen treats and ice creams to choose from, plus they are more abundant in taste than conventional ice cream.

Instead of traditional milk, vegan and non-dairy ice cream, options are made from different kinds of milk, such as oat, coconut, and almond.

3.    Rich In Protein And Other Healthy Additives

Ice cream makers are now adding more fibre, protein, CBD, and probiotics to target health-conscious customers.

The fact is that this yummy-treat is too hard to pass on or put down, and a healthier alternative is one bandwagon people will jump on without second-guessing.

A famous UK-based brand, Wheyhey, is known for providing ice creams and treats that are low in sugar and high in protein – a perfect combination for a guilt-free dessert.

4. Toppings Of The World

Many people look forward to having flavourful ice creams with different layers, toppings, textures, and a combination of fillings.

Our favourite toppings to look forward to in 2020 include Ritz Crackers, wasabi peas, caramel corn… and basil and olive oil.

5. The Unique And The Weird

Mashups between different flavours will be quite common in 2020 and onwards.  People look forward to seeing unique mixes that lead to outstanding results.

We see brands selling French fries with Vanilla ice cream, we also witnessed a weird yet wonderful (according to some people) combo of balsamic and strawberries, and then there was Bacon ice cream that blew us away.

6. Alcoholic Ice Creams

It is predicted that from 2018 to 2022, alcoholic ice cream will have a CAGR of about 6%.

And that’s why one of the large Ice Cream producers partnered with New Belgium Brewing Co. to create beer-based ice cream, the Salted Caramel Brown-ie-Ale.

So in 2020, you won’t have to choose between a bar and an ice cream shop – from cocktail ice creams to beer ice creams, to alcoholic lollies, there is something for everyone who is over 18.

7. Spice And All Things Nice

From chai-inspired lollies to cinnamon-spiced creams and more – expect some exotic international flavours at your local ice cream parlours this year.

We even saw a curry ice cream in the making, and it wasn’t so bad.

A famous example is Spice & All Things N’ice – a creamy caramel ice cream combined with gingerbread cookie pieces.

8. The Power Of Umami

Umami is the elusive 5th flavour (after sweet, salty, sour and bitter), and it hasn’t been a focus for ice cream makers – that is until now.

If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine, you must’ve tasted Umami often.

Now, this flavour is being added to ice creams as makers’ experiment with seaweed and mushrooms to incorporate them with the highest quality soft serve. It’s already available in Japan, where customers can even get it with a topping of balsamic vinegar sauce.

In 2020, you can expect this flavour to cater to markets all across the globe, including the United Kingdom.

9. Bite-sized Treats

Conventional cones, cups, and stick based ice creams are ever so popular, but now new variants are being introduced to make ice cream an on-the-go snack.

They come in small shapes, sizes, and more accessible packaging – not only are these items easy to store, but retailers and local shops do not require a specialist freezer display.

10. Customised Ice Creams

Imagine: freshly prepared ice creams served just the way you like them.

We foresee ice cream bars popping up across the UK, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the favourite flavours and toppings as well as other combos.

Have you ever head lava brownies or hot fudge brownies with whipped cream and ice cream? If you have not, we are 100% sure that you will love it.

Customers will have plenty of choices when it comes to customising their ice creams with personalised dipped and topped bars.

We are definitely looking forward to these trends to hit the UK market. Are you ready to enjoy these new and novel flavours, textures and combinations? Tell us which one has you the most excited about ice creams in 2020.