The Scoop on Consumer Ice Cream Trends

The Scoop on Consumer

Ice Cream Trends

The scoop on consumer ice cream trends 2

The U.S. ice cream and frozen

dessert market

Ice cream and frozen dessert sales have hovered near

$27 billion for the past several years. The foodservice

market has a slightly larger share of the total U.S. ice

cream and frozen dessert market, comprising more than

55 percent.

The category is expected to approach $30 billion by

2020, driven by the introduction of products aligned with

consumer interest in “free-from” products. Packaged

Facts also predicts an increase in gelato and super-

premium ice cream introductions and sales, while sales of

frozen yogurt are expected to decrease.

Consumers’ quest to cut the sugar

in the freezer aisle

Shoppers may also be filling their freezers with

reduced-sugar ice creams and frozen dairy

desserts. Nielsen reports that retail ice cream

sales increased 3.5 percent from 2015 to 2016,

with reduced-sugar products driving the growth.

Pam Stauffer, Cargill’s global marketing programs

manager explains, “Americans’ growing

awareness of sugar content is clearly playing

out in their selection of many products, ice

cream included. Innovative food manufacturers

are capitalizing on those consumer desires by

creating reduced-sugar frozen treats that still

deliver a rich, decadent experience.”

The ice cream and frozen dessert market is historically stable and

mature. Successful new product launches generally come at the

expense of existing products, rather than adding sales to the overall

category. The challenge for manufacturers looking to maintain

or increase market share is producing products that align with

consumer trends.

FOODSERVICE

SALES:

$15.7

billion

RETAIL

SALES:

$12.3

billion

More than three in four Americans now

say they are trying to avoid or limit

their sugar intake. Yet taste remains

consumers’ number one concern.

The scoop on consumer ice cream trends 3

Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts in the U.S., 9th Edition. Packaged Facts, January 2017

State of the Industry: Dairy. Nov. 13, 2017. Food Business News. http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/

articles/news_home/Business_News/2017/11/State_of_the_industry_Dairy.aspx?ID=%7BF5D2521F-

729B-4618-9869-390A54BDD15B%7D

International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) 2017 Food and Health Survey.

Cargill sugar-reduction solutions

Zerose

erythritol delivers a sweet taste similar to sugar,

but without the calories. This sweetener also offers other

benefits. “In a food category where consumers have

been known to overindulge, erythritol has the highest

digestive tolerance, as compared with other polyol

sweetener options,” explains Ravi Nana, Cargill’s polyols

technical service manager. “Clearly, that’s an important

consideration for ice cream makers.” Erythritol is also

heralded for its oral health benefits.

Cutting the sugar from ice cream does more than

reduce the sweetness. It also affects texture, mouthfeel

and consistency. Erythritol can successfully fill the void.

Because of its small molecular size (one-third that of

sugar), erythritol provides a three-fold freezing-point

depression factor. This higher effect on freezing-point

depression helps soften reduced-sugar ice creams,

creating the scoopable texture consumers crave.

Erythritol also has great synergy with

versatile and consumer-favorite stevia.

Combining Zerose

erythritol with Cargill’s ViaTech

™

stevia sweeteners can help product developers achieve

a 25 to 30 percent sugar reduction, yet still deliver a

consumer-pleasing dessert. Deeper reductions may

even be possible. “Slight shifts in concentrations can

have a dramatic impact on sweetness perception and

flavor,” explains Nana.

The ViaTech

™

stevia portfolio can provide significant

improvements in sweetness quality compared with

traditional stevia leaf extracts. With a sensible cost-in-

use and reliable supply, it helps you easily meet your

sugar-reduction goals.

Claims: The labeling, substantiation and decision making of all claims for your products is your

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laws, rules and regulations prior to making labeling and claims decisions.