Competitive Landscape of Ice Cream Market, Recent Developments, Strategies, Sustainability, Product Launches, Key Persons, and Revenue Forecasts

The ice cream industry is expected to grow substantially, reaching an estimated $ 125.62 billion by 2033, from $ 80.03 billion in 2024. This growth will be at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.14% from 2025 to 2033. Among the main drivers for this consistent growth are the launch of seasonal and limited-edition products, expansion across emerging markets, changing consumer desires for healthier and innovative flavors, and increased emphasis on sustainability and ethical practices in the business.

Ice cream is a creamy frozen treat composed of a mixture of cream, milk, sugar, and flavorings, usually consumed in some form like cones, cups, or sundaes. Its history goes back to ancient times, but the contemporary form gained mass popularity in the 17th century and gained popularity rapidly across the globe.

Ice cream is now extremely popular all over the world, crossing boundaries of culture and tastes. There are so many flavors available, from traditional vanilla and chocolate to unusual ones like matcha and lavender, that there's something for everyone. Seasonal and promotional flavors add to its popularity, fuelling consumer buzz and activity.

Different situations, like birthdays, festive seasons, and warm summer days, tend to feature ice cream as the central focus of celebrations and social gatherings. Also, the proliferation of dairy-free and low-calorie versions of the product has increased its audience, making it available to people with dietary restrictions. Generally, ice cream is a much-loved treat that continues to hold their own in global markets, with a special place in the hierarchy of desserts.

The world's biggest ice cream makers.

Meiji CO. Ltd

Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Japan

Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. (Meiji) is a leading producer and distributor of dairy, confectionery, and nutritionals. It has a diversified product portfolio in milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, chocolates, and gummy sweets. In addition, Meiji has beauty supplements, protein and nutritionals, vaccines, antibacterial agents, and generic medicines. The company also offers contract manufacturing (CMO) and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services, including operations in India. Meiji’s products are marketed under various well-known brands such as Meiji, Essel, Oishii Gyunyu, DepromeL, Reflex, Kaju Gummy, Kinoko no Yama, Galbo, Amino Collagen, Savas, Sycrest, and Streptomycin. The company operates sales offices, R&D centers, and manufacturing facilities across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

General Mills Inc.

Formation: 1928
Headquarters: United States

General Mills Inc (General Mills) is a consumer branded food manufacturer and marketer. The company's product line comprises grains, fruits, savories, nutrition bars, frozen hot snacks, and ready-to-eat cereals, natural pet food, refrigerated and frozen dough, baking mixes and ingredients, yogurt, and super-premium ice cream. It also offers convenient meals such as meal kits, ethnic meals, pizza, soup, side dish mixes, frozen breakfast foods, and frozen entrees. Its brands of products are Blue Buffalo, Food Should Taste Good, Fruit Roll-Ups, Blue Basics, Cheerios, Chex, Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp, EPIC, Fiber One, Fruit Gushers, Gardetto's, Go-Gurt, Gold Medal, and Golden Grahams. Its broad customers span the stores within grocery markets, mass merchanisers, e-commerce channels, food service distributors, as well as pet specialty establishments. It has operations in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

Yili Group

Structure: 1993
Headquarters: China

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (Yili Group) is a leading producer and distributor of dairy products. Some of its products are liquid milk, yogurt, milk powder, ice cream, and nutritional meal replacement bars. Yili distributes a variety of milk such as pure milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, maltose milk, skimmed milk, low-lactose nutrition milk, and classic organic milk. Major brands include ShuHua, QQstar, Chang Yi, We Ke Zi, and YouSuanRu. Baby and adult formula is also sold by the firm under the Pro Kido and Tofer brands, yogurt under MeiYiTian, WeiNong, ShangBuFang, Yi Xiao, Life Up, and PureDay, and ice cream under Chocliz and Zhenxi. Yili boasts a New Zealand production base and Netherlands R&D center, supporting its international presence and innovation.

Unilever Group

Formation: 1929
Headquarters: United Kingdom

Unilever Plc is a consumer goods manufacturer and supplier with a broad portfolio of consumer goods such as foods, beverages, home care products, and beauty and personal care products, as well as vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Its household name brands include Dove, Axe, Sunsilk, Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Ben & Jerry's, Cornetto, Lifebuoy, Lux, Domestos, Omo, Clear, Dermalogica, Horlicks, and Nutrafol. Unilever sells its products through various channels including traditional outlets, small independent shops, e-commerce platforms, and value stores. Having a presence in the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, Unilever has a decent international presence in the consumer goods industry.

Mondelez International

Founded: 2012
Headquarters: United States

Mondelez International Inc. is a global leader in the snack business, with experience in the production and marketing of chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, baked snacks, cheese, grocery foods, and powdered beverages. Its portfolio encompasses Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar, Tate's Bake Shop, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone. Mondelez distributes its products via a broad array of different types of retail channels, including supermarkets, wholesalers, convenience stores, gas stations, drugstores, and value retailers. Mondelez uses direct store delivery, company-owned and satellite warehouses, distribution centers, and third-party distributors in its distribution system to service its business in global markets.

Nestle S.A.

Established: 1866
Headquarters: Switzerland

Nestlé SA is a global food and drink giant company that makes and markets a wide range of products such as infant food, packaged water, cereals, chocolates, coffee, and foodstuffs. Its portfolio consists of plant-based foods, chilled and frozen food, dairy, nutrition and health science offerings, ice cream, and petcare. Nestlé's diversified portfolio of brands comprises home staples such as Nescafé, Kit Kat, Maggi, Milo, Purina, Gerber, Nespresso, Perrier, and Nestlé Ice Cream. Having a presence globally in all parts of the globe - Asia, Oceania, Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa - the company sells its products to a broad global consumer market.

Bright Dairy & Food Co. Ltd Ice-cream Product Launches

January 2022 - Another tie-up, another wave of nostalgia. Bright Dairy & Food Co. Ltd. and White Rabbit Brand of Shanghai, or Shanghai Guan Sheng Yuan Food Ltd., has released Peanuts Nougat Ice Cream for more people to indulge in. Hao Productions, the sole appointed distributor of the Peanuts Nougat Ice Cream in Singapore, is importing them with a total of 78 outlets through a tie-up with FairPrice Express and Cheers convenience stores.

Danone S.A. Ice-cream Product Launches

June 2025, Danone, a French dairy firm, has UltraMel Delight, a new dessert, entering the confectionery market. The company revealed that the new product is available in three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. The product is produced using low-fat milk, which achieves a smooth consistency with reduced calories, making it a suitable option for those trying to lose weight.

SWOT Analysis of The Kroger Co.

Strength: Robust Private-Label Ice Cream Offer and Retail Availability - The strength of Kroger's position in the ice cream category is its private-label portfolio, particularly the Private Selection brand, with upscale ice cream flavors available at a lower cost than national labels. This premium quality has earned consumer loyalty, allowing Kroger a margin benefit and promotion flexibility, like buy-one-get-one discounts. With a large chain of supermarkets, Kroger has high visibility on the shelves and can easily respond to regional trends. With the strong brand name, competitive price, and extensive retail presence, Kroger has a competitive advantage in the ice cream segment.

SWOT Analysis of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Strength: Unique Premium Brand & Storefront Experience - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers a solid premium brand reputation and experiential store fronts that can be applied in the ice cream industry. A brand recognized by its high-quality chocolate, the existing reputation for taste and artisanship can be easily converted into the offerings of ice cream. Their retail outlets, typically located in high-traffic areas, are designed to have a consumer-experience-based shop-in that prompts impulse buying. Additionally, their expertise in artisanal flavors allows for unique ice cream products with upscale mix-ins and seasonal editions, differentiating them from mass-market options. This premium positioning provides higher margin potential, making them well-suited to stand out in the crowded ice cream market.

Vadilal Industries Ltd. Recent Development in Icecream Market

Sept 2025, Vadilal Industries, a well-known Indian firm, is planning to begin ice cream manufacture at its American subsidiary's local plant within the end of the year. This ambitious project not only intends to decrease reliance on imported frozen desserts but also hopes to enhance the distribution and sales of their lavish and varied product line in the U.S. market. With this tactical shift, Vadilal Industries will indulge local palates while cementing its position in the challenging ice cream market.

Wells Enterprises Recent Development in Icecream Market

Wells Enterprises, the US ice cream behemoth, joined the Ferrero universe in 2022. The European Commission has raised the investment in the proposed development of the Dunkirk production facility in New York by USD 174 million to USD 425 million. The expansion will enable Wells Enterprises to double the capacity of the plant to more than 32,000 square meters and double the production capacity from 34 million cases of ice cream annually to more than 50 million cases of ice cream annually. The construction has already commenced, but the firm will still continue to make ice cream in the factory throughout the expansion. The newly expanded region of the Dunkirk plant should be up and running by August 2025.

Blue Bell Creameries Sustainability Goal

Jan. 28, 2025 - Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham, Texas was awarded the International Dairy Foods Association's (IDFA) 2025 Food Safety Leadership Award at IDFA's Dairy Forum. Now in its ninth year, the award recognizes an individual, group or company for outstanding leadership aimed at improving food safety in the dairy foods industry. Turkey Hill collaborated with NextEra and Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority in installing the first commercial-sized wind energy project in South Central Pennsylvania. The turbines cut the greenhouse gas emissions of the dairy by approximately 5,900 tons a year, which is like taking 1,200 cars off the road.

Global Ice Cream Market

• Historical Trends
• Forecast Analysis

Market Share Analysis - Global Ice Cream Market

Company Analysis

Overview

• Company History and Mission
• Business Model and Operations
• Workforce

Key Persons

• Executive Leadership
• Operational Management
• Division Leaders
• Board Composition

Recent Development & Strategies

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Partnerships
• Investments

Sustainability Analysis

• Renewable Energy Adoption
• Energy-Efficient Infrastructure
• Use of Sustainable Packaging Materials
• Water Usage and Conservation Strategies
• Waste Management and Circular Economy Initiatives

Product Analysis

• Product Profile
• Quality Standards
• Product Pipeline
• Product Benchmarking

Strategic Assessment: SWOT Analysis

• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Opportunities
• Threats

Revenue Analysis

The above information will be available for all the following companies:

• Meiji CO. Ltd
• General Mills Inc
• Yili Group
• Unilever Group
• Mondelez International
• Nestle S.A
• Bright Dairy & Food Co. Ltd
• Danone S.A
• The Kroger Co.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
• Vadilal Industries Ltd
• Wells Enterprises
• Blue Bell Creameries
• Turkey Hill Dairy
• Cold Stone Creamery