Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Market Report 2026

The ice cream and frozen dessert market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $111.82 billion in 2025 to $118.33 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of organized retail freezers, rising disposable income levels, growing urban consumer base, increasing demand for indulgent desserts, improved cold storage infrastructure.

The ice cream and frozen dessert market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $153.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for sugar-free and functional frozen desserts, expansion of e-commerce based frozen food delivery, rising focus on sustainable packaging, increasing innovation in texture and formulation, growing penetration in emerging markets. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for premium and artisanal frozen desserts, rising popularity of non-dairy and plant-based variants, growing focus on clean-label ingredients, expansion of innovative flavors and formats, enhanced use of digital cold-chain monitoring.

The rising demand for e-commerce is anticipated to drive the growth of the ice cream and frozen dessert market in the coming years. E-commerce involves the purchase and sale of goods and services through online platforms. These platforms provide consumers with greater convenience by enabling them to explore and buy a wide range of ice cream and frozen dessert products from their homes. This ease of access encourages impulse buying and repeat purchases. For instance, in August 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau, a U.S.-based government agency, compared with the second quarter of 2022, e-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2023 increased by 7.5%, while total retail sales rose by 0.6%. Online channels accounted for 15.4% of total retail sales during the second quarter of 2023. Therefore, the expanding adoption of e-commerce is contributing to the growth of the ice cream and frozen dessert market.

Major companies operating in the ice cream and frozen dessert market are introducing innovative food products to maintain their market position and address growing consumer demand for plant-based, convenient, and protein-rich frozen options. For example, in May 2023, Beyond Meat Inc., a U.S.-based food company, introduced three frozen plant-based ready meals at Tesco stores, including Spaghetti Bolognese, Keema Curry & Pilau Rice, and Chili with Coriander Rice. These meals are targeted at flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans, offering plant-based versions of familiar comfort foods. They are easy to prepare, high in protein, and broadly available across Tesco outlets in the UK, following the earlier UK launch of Beyond Meat’s plant-based chicken products.

In December 2024, Froneri International Limited, a UK-based producer and marketer of ice cream and frozen dessert products, acquired CRUFI S.A. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Froneri aimed to expand its footprint in South America by integrating CRUFI’s ice cream and frozen food operations, thereby enhancing its regional manufacturing and distribution capabilities. CRUFI S.A. is a Uruguay-based food company specializing in ice cream, frozen desserts, and other frozen food products.

Major companies operating in the ice cream and frozen dessert market are Nestle S.A., Unilever plc, Danone S.A., Groupe Lactalis S.A., FrieslandCampina, General Mills, Agropur Cooperative, Meiji Holdings Co Ltd, Aavin, Abbott's Frozen Custard, Algida, Ample Hills Creamery Inc., Amul, Arun Icecreams, Australian Homemade, Bambino Ice Cream, Baskin-Robbins Homemade Holdings Inc., Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., Berthillon, Blue Bell Creameries, Blue Bunny (Wells Enterprises Inc.), Bonnie Doon Ice Cream, Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy, Bresler's Ice Cream, Breyers, Calippo, Cold Stone Creamery Inc., Coolhaus, International Dairy Queen Inc., Del's, Dole Whip, Elsie Stix-Borden Dairy, Fab Ice Creams, Jel Sert Company, Freaky Ice, Froster, Golden Spoon Creamery.

Western Europe was the largest region in the ice cream and frozen dessert market in 2025. Asia-Pacific was the second largest region of the ice cream and frozen dessert market. The regions covered in the ice cream and frozen dessert market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the ice cream and frozen dessert market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The ice cream and frozen dessert market consists of sales of ice cream, frozen ices, frozen yogurts, sherbets, and other frozen desserts (except bakery products). The companies in the industry package and distribute their products through various distribution channels to both individual customers and commercial establishments. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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