India’s ice cream market, one of the fastest growing markets in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, is forecast to grow from INR121.4bn (US$1.8bn) in 2018 to INR213.6bn (US$2.9bn) in 2023, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s report, ‘India Ice Cream – Market Assessment and Forecasts to 2023’, reveals that the ‘take-home and bulk ice cream’ category, which accounted for 49.5% value share of the overall sales in 2018, leads the ice cream sector in India. It is followed by the ‘impulse ice cream – single serve’ category, which held a value share of 45.4%. Dairy-based ice creams are more popular among Indians than water-based ice creams.

Mohammed Masiuddin Shajie, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, says: “The perception of Indians towards ice cream has evolved from being an indulgent product to a snack due to the increased discretionary spending and changing life styles of consumers. Moreover, the demand for artisanal ice creams is also growing among consumers. Although the category accounted for just 5.1% value share in 2018, it is forecast to grow at a healthy value CAGR of 11.8%, which is slightly higher than that of ‘take-home and bulk ice cream’ category during the next five years.”

The value share of India in the APAC ice cream sector is forecast to grow from 8.4% in 2018 to 11.2% in 2023. Growth in the Indian ice cream market is driven by increasing disposable income and improving cold chain infrastructure in the country.

Convenience stores remain the most popular channel for the distribution of ice creams in India. It held a majority share of 52.4% in value terms in 2018, followed by food & drinks specialists, which accounted for 38.4% share of the overall sector sales in the same year.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), Unilever and Wells Enterprises, Inc. are the leading players in the Indian ice cream sector. Amul is the most popular ice cream brand in India, distantly followed by Vadilal, Cream Bell and Havmor.

Shajie concludes: “With an increasing trend of eating out among the consumers, the Indian ice cream market stands poised to incorporate innovative concepts. Moreover, as unique and gourmet flavors are gaining in popularity, companies should adopt innovation and premiumization as the methods, and offer novel and premium products to gain competitive advantage.”