The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has many consumers reaching for small indulgences to brighten their days. That reality has been a boon to the frozen novelties category, which Chicago-based market research firm IRI breaks into three subcategories: frozen novelties, ice cream/ice milk desserts and ice pop novelties.
The overall category saw dollar sales climb 18.1% to $6,662.8 million during the 52 weeks ending Dec. 27, 2020, according to IRI data. Unit sales jumped 10.6% to 1,826.2 million.