Indulgence tops health for U.S. ice cream
Ice cream in all varieties has remained popular for centuries and it seems that in the United States, consumers aren’t straying far from the classics even amidst their quest for a healthy lifestyle.
Ice cream in all varieties has remained popular for centuries and it seems that in the United States, consumers aren’t straying far from the classics even amidst their quest for a healthy lifestyle. New research from Mintel reveals that retail sales of frozen yogurt and nondairy ice cream slipped 10% in the last two years, reaching an estimated $299 million in 2016. Meanwhile, the ice cream and frozen dairy desserts segment grew 7% from 2014 to 2016 to reach an estimated $6.8 billion.
It appears that attitudes support consumers’ desire to indulge with ice cream. Only 11% of U.S. consumers report cutting back on ice cream or frozen treat consumption due to health concerns. In fact, an almost equal share (10%) report actively avoiding healthy versions because they are “meant to be treats.” More than one quarter (27%) of ice cream buyers agree that, even though they find these treats unhealthy, they buy them anyway.
Despite waning interest in the United States, ice cream aisles across the globe have been experiencing a dairy-free makeover as many consumers are looking to cut down on their dairy consumption. The share of global dessert and ice cream launches featuring a vegan claim has increased from 2% in 2014 to 4% in 2016, with Europe accounting for 59% of all launches in 2016.
“Many of the pleasures that consumers get from frozen treats, such as satisfaction of cravings and an enjoyable indulgence, simply outweigh health-related concerns for the vast majority of Americans. As a result, we’re seeing a decline in retail sales for the frozen yogurt and nondairy segment, which typically carries a health halo,” said Mimi Bonnett, director, U.S. Reports, Food, Drink, and Foodservice at Mintel.