Ice Cream Market Opportunities, Trends, Growth Analysis and Forecast to 2029

Provides an overview of current ice cream scenario regarding the future outlook in terms of ingredients, product claims, labeling, distribution, and packaging. The analysis also covers regional overview across five regions – Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Americas, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe – highlighting industry size, growth drivers, latest developments, and future inhibitors for the regions.

Growing consumer demand for convenient and comforting foods that are ready-to-consume is stimulating the sector’s growth. As a result, value sales of the global ice cream sector are anticipated to grow from $86.7 billion in 2024 to $108.9 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. Take-home and bulk ice cream was the largest category by value in 2024, holding a share of 49.4%. It was followed by impulse ice cream – single serve with a 43.5% share. The Americas was the leading market in 2024, with a value share of 34.4%. The US, China, and Japan were the largest markets with a combined value share of 36.7%.

Scope

This report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the global ice cream sector, analyzing data from 108 countries. It includes analysis on the following –

Global snapshot: Includes executive summary, current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, labeling, and packaging. The section also touches on the key growth enablers and inhibitors for the ice cream sector.

Sector snapshot: The analysis provides a global overview, along with regional and category-level data and analysis. It also includes a regional overview across five regions-Americas, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Western Europe-highlighting sector size and evolution, value and volume shares by category, and growth drivers for each region.

Consumer trends: Provides an overview of evolving consumer trends, supported by GlobalData’s in-house consumer surveys, and product examples.

Country deep-dive: Provides risk–reward analysis of the top high-potential countries in each region based on market assessment, economic development, governance indicators, sociodemographic factors, and technological infrastructure. Provides a deep-dive analysis of 10 high-potential countries covering value growth during 2024–29, consumer demographics, and key trends. It also includes regional analysis covering the outlook for each region.

Health & wellness analysis*: Provides insights on health & wellness products in terms of value and percentage share in the overall ice cream sector at a global and regional level during 2019–24. The analysis includes key health & wellness attributes and consumer benefits driving sales of ice cream across the five regions in 2024. It also covers the market shares of leading companies offering ice cream with health & wellness attributes.

Competitive environment and brand shares: Provides an overview of the leading companies and brands at global and regional levels. Market shares of brands and private labels in each region are also detailed.

Distribution overview: Provides an analysis of the leading distribution channels in the global ice cream sector in 2024. It covers modern retail, traditional retail, specialist retail, cash & carries & warehouse clubs, direct sellers, vending machines, and other distribution channels.

Packaging analysis*: The report provides percentage share (in 2024) and growth analysis (during 2024–29) for various pack materials, pack types, closures, and primary outer types based on volume sales of ice cream.

Select industry metrics: The section provides topline statistics and analysis for different alternate datasets, such as patent filings, job analytics, and deals in the food industry in 2024.

Key Highlights

The rising consumer demand for ready-to-consume and indulgent food options is pushing the global demand for ice cream products. Additionally, consumers choose ice cream as a comforting food option. Consumers are increasingly seeking healthier ice cream options due to rising health concerns and changing dietary preferences. As a result, demand is growing for products labeled low-fat, low-sugar, or high-protein. Expanding retail channels and the wider availability of options at these outlets supported the sector’s growth. Improved distribution to restaurants, cafés, and other foodservice outlets also benefited the sector.

Reasons to Buy

Manufacturers and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region

The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis, that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances

The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion

To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth rates