Ice cream is marketed to consumers as a “fun” food, but the industry sees little to enjoy. Sales of ice cream, novelties, and sherbets have declined. Frozen yogurt, on the other hand, is the category star.
Ice cream is a price-driven food with little brand loyalty. Sure, consumers say they have their favorite flavors and brands, but when that moment of truth arrives and it’s time to grab a carton from the freezer, price beats brand. The best-selling national brand is “private label.” And the sad truth of it is, Americans are buying less ice cream.
Ice cream does not carry a healthy halo or a nutritional benefit, unlike milk, cheese or yogurt. It’s a “fun” food and competes for share of stomach with cakes, pies and other desserts. Still, dairy processors tell Dairy Foods that they are addressing consumers’ health concerns by developing no-sugar added, gluten-free and lactose-free products.