Ice Cream Trendspotting
It’s summertime and nothing signifies summer like ice cream. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global ice cream market size was valued at $71.52 billion in 2021. It is projected to grow from $73.61 billion in 2022 to $104.96 billion by 2029. Summer-time limited launches, savory flavors and collaborations, and ice cream-inspired beauty products are the latest ice cream trends.
Summertime Screams Ice Cream
On behalf of I Love Ice Cream Cakes, One Poll surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults. The poll revealed ice cream is still a crucial part of people’s summers, as 39% continue to eat it – including 53% of respondents ages 77 and older. Eating ice cream also makes people feel happy (36%), satisfied (34%), and relaxed (30%).
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream launched the At The Pool collection in five flavors: Bombastix Sundae Cone (double vanilla ice cream with fudge and chocolate-covered waffle cone chunks), Butterscotch Popcorn, Dairy Free Lemon Bar (lemon curd, shortbread crust, and coconut cream), Golden Nectar (notes of nectar, vanilla, and clove with cracked caramel pieces), and Watermelon Taffy. For the summer, Van Leeuwen dropped new limited-edition flavors in Campfire S’mores, Espresso Fior Di Latte Chip, Honey Cornbread with Strawberry Jam, and Summer Peach Crisp varieties sold exclusively at Walmart. Krispy Kreme debuted Original Glazed Soft Serve Ice Cream, which is available in shakes, cones, and cups and was initially launched in 10 U.S. markets. The shakes are offered in seven flavors: Birthday Batter, Chocolate Iced, Coffee and Kreme, Cookies and Kreme, Lemon Filled, Original Glazed, and Strawberry Iced Sprinkled.
The Savory Side of Ice Cream
The latest trend in ice cream flavors is unexpected savory flavors and ice cream collaborations. For those that enjoy condiments, in Canada, French’s launched a limited-edition ketchup-flavored ice pop, dubbed ‘Frenchsicles’ while Van Leeuwen and Grey Poupon collaborated on a Grey Poupon Dijon mustard ice cream flavor with salted pretzels. Brooklyn-based Social debuted Let the Dogs Out ice cream in honor of the Fourth of July. The flavor is described as “toasted buttered bun ice cream with medallions of caramelized Nathan’s all beef hot dogs.” Salt & Straw introduced the summer Picnic Series. The brand partnered with their “favorite award-winning culinary artists to create the most iconic picnic experience captured in five scoops of ice cream.” The five flavors include Cinnamon & Honey Fried Chicken (with Ezell’s Famous Chicken), Chocolate Nocino Cherry Pie (with Stone Barn Brandyworks), Deviled Egg Custard with Smoked Black Tea (with Smith Tea), Pink Rosé & Watermelon Sorbet (with Sokol Blosser), and Baked Brie & Fig Cheesecake (with Cowgirl Creamery). DiGiorno transformed the flaky, buttery layers of its best-selling Croissant Crust and baked it into DiGiorno Croissant Crust Cones. The brand then teamed up with a Cleveland-based creamery to create two savory ice cream flavors: Parmesan Cheese and Strawberry Tomato Basil to be paired with the new cones. The signature cones and ice creams are only available through an online sweepstakes for July with a chance to win one of 20 kits.
Ice Cream Never Smelt So Good – Ice Cream-Inspired Beauty
Like other food and beverages, ice cream is inspirational. Beauty is the most recent category ice cream has influenced. Magnum ice cream and Nails INC collaborated on the Magnum Ice Cream x Nails INC scented nail polish line inspired by the new duet bars. The nail polish is offered in three scents: Almond, Chocolate, and Cookie Duet. Salt & Straw has dropped an innovative new product dubbed Culinary Perfume, which is “both edible and wearable.” It is offered in three scents: A Swoon of Citrus, A Cloud of Cocoa, and A Plume of Blooms. The edible perfume “doesn’t change the flavor of the ice cream but enhances the ice cream experience.” Supergoop! and Sunscoop, a plant-based ice cream brand, have partnered on a Suntruck, a limited-time co-branded shop on wheels. For the month of July in Manhattan and the Hamptons, the Suntruck will serve the new collaborative Sweet Sunshine ice cream flavor inspired by Glowscreen SPF, which features passionfruit, vanilla, ginger, and turmeric finished with pearl powder.
Ice cream is a popular format to introduce new flavors that range from sweet to savory. It also is inspirational for scented beauty products. Keep a look out for new savory flavors, collaborations, and ice cream-inspired scents.
Can’t take the summer heat? Cool off with a refreshing custom-designed trend excursion, a flavorful marketing presentation, a chill blog post or hire Amy Marks-McGee as a guest speaker.