United States Ice Cream Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The United States ice cream market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.91% during the forecast period.

Key Highlights

• Due to the rising health concerns with regards to ice cream consumption, consumers across the country are now preferring ice cream products that are GMO-free, hormone-free, additive- and preservative-free, dairy-free, low in calories, and organic and fat-free.
• There's a rise in demand for premium ice creams across the country, which will be one of the primary factors driving the market growth. Premium ice creams have become a popular product among health-conscious consumers due to the presence of high-quality ingredients and a lower amount of aeration compared to regular ice creams.
• Furthermore, growing preference for natural, less processed, and convenient food, and an increasing focus on low-calorie ice creams are enabling companies to tap the growth potential of the market.

Key Market Trends

Surge in Innovative Flavors and Loaded Indulgence

To gain competitive advantage and to appeal to the US consumers, ice cream manufacturers are creating products with premium and innovative ingredients. This, in turn, increases their customer base too. Furthermore, the favorable regulations also cater to the innovations in the market studied. In May 2019, the FDA held a public hearing on legalization of cannabidiol in the country. Thus, key players are tapping this opportunity and introducing new products to differentiate their offering. For instance, Ben & Jerry initiated the launch of CBD-infused ice cream. The company plans to source its future CBD locally from Vermont, keeping coordinated with its practices of ‘values-led sourcing’. As per the research, savory flavors entice US consumers. Thus, manufacturers are investing on collaborations and researches to produce innovative savory flavored ice cream in the US market.

Increased Popularity of Sustainable Packaging

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States alone produces almost 80 million metric ton of packaging waste each year. Additionally, around half of the packaging waste in the country comes from food and beverage products, generating most of the plastic waste. Owing to above-mentioned factors, there is a rise in demand for sustainable/eco-friendly packaging. Sustainable packaging not only plays an important role in increasing the shelf life of the product but also reduces the adverse effect on environment. Sustainable packaging finds it is application in majority of the industries, but predominantly it has found a significant stake in the food and beverage industry. The key players operating in the market studied are collaborating with various suppliers to cater to their products in sustainable packaging to gain consumer trust and interest.

Competitive Landscape

The United States ice cream market is a highly fragmented market and comprises of regional and international competitors. The major strategies adopted by the companies operating in the United States ice cream market are new product launches, agreements/partnerships, expansions, and mergers and acquisitions. Major players are focusing on introducing new products in the market to cater to the interests of the consumers. The prominent players in the market are Unilever, Nestle, General Mills, and Blue Bell Creameries.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support