The frozen desserts/toppings category saw dollar sales drop 3.2% to $671.5 million, and unit sales decline 3.9% to 268.6 million, for the 52 weeks ended June 11, 2017, according to IRI.

The frozen desserts/toppings category consists of these segments:

• Frozen whip toppings ($319.7 million; units down 4.3%)
• Frozen sweet goods - no cheesecakes ($228.9 million; units down 2%)
• Frozen cheesecakes ($122.7 million; units down 4.2% )
• Frozen pudding/mousse ($0.105 million; units down 72.3%) 

Cheesecake sales are declining

In the frozen cheesecakes segment, dollar sales decreased 11.3% to $122.7 million and unit sales dropped 4.2% to 18.1 million. Private label led the segment with $44.2 million, but dollar sales fell 25.5% and unit sales were down 27.8%. Sara Lee (Hillshire Brand), one of only four brands in the top 10 to see sales increase, saw dollar and unit sales grow 4.5% and 17.6%, respectively. Sales for The Cheesecake Factory (The Cheesecake Factory Bakery) rose 1.2%, but unit sales declined 0.2%. Edwards (Schwan Food Co.) saw dollar sales drop 27.1% and unit sales were down 8.3%.

Dollar sales for Jon Donaire (Rich Products Corp.) jumped 14.7% and unit sales improved 11.9%. Daiya Foods showed some promise with dollar sales climbing 49.4% and unit sales increasing 45.9%. Panarama sales struggled, as dollar sales declined 36.9% and unit sales dropped 34.1%.

In the frozen sweet goods (no cheesecakes) segment, dollar sales fell 1% to $228.9 million and unit sales dipped 2% to 53.4 million. Segment leader Pepperidge Farm’s dollar sales increased 1.6% and unit sales were up 1.2%. Also among the top 10, Sara Lee saw dollar and unit sales go up 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively. Sales struggled for Marie Callender’s (Conagra Foods) — dollar sales decreased 28.5% and unit sales dropped 40.1%.  Dollar sales were up 8.4% for Mrs. Smith’s (Schwan Food Co.), and unit sales increased 6.8%. Outside of the top 10, J&J Snack Foods’ dollar sales improved 100.8% to $5.8 million and unit sales jumped 75%. 

Frozen whip topping sales get pounded

Dollar sales in the frozen whip toppings segment fell 1.3% to $319.7 million, and unit sales were down 4.3% to 196.9 million. Kraft Cool Whip led the segment with $228.6 million. Dollar sales decreased 3.8% and unit sales dropped 8.9%. Private label came in second in the top 10, with $85.4 million — dollar sales climbed 5% and unit sales increased 6.3%. Dollar sales ($2.4 million) for Peak Foods dropped 16.1% and unit sales also fell 18.2%.  So Delicious (Whitewave Foods) saw dollar sales increase 59.1% to $1.8 million and unit sales jump 49.9%. Rich’s also saw impressive sales — dollar sales increased 70.2% to $1.2 million and unit sales rose 76%.

In the smallest segment in the category, frozen pudding/mousse sales plunged. Total dollar sales were down 76.8% to $105,028, and unit sales dropped 72.3% to 21,363.  The French Patisserie led the segment with $94,359, but dollar and unit sales dropped 78.8% and 76.8%, respectively.