Over the past several years, the phrase “a win is a win” has been used by many athletes, often in reference to winning a game or match without a dominant performance. The phrase applies aptly to the overall frozen novelty category.
In James Bond 007 movies, the music openings dramatically set the tone of each spy thriller. British singer-songwriter Adele’s “Skyfall,” not only won “Best Original Song” at the 2012 Academy Awards but spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Top 100. Also “winning” and demonstrating staying power in the ice cream category is the $8.9 frozen novelties category.
In a unique look encompassing the entire 2023 period, as opposed to a specific 52-week period we often present, Chicago-based research firm Circana data reveals novelty sales were not red hot, but held up adequately compared to the prior year.
Under the ice cream/sherbet category, ice milk/frozen dairy desserts and sherbet/sorbet/ices are all posting solid growth in both dollars (10% growth) and units (3% gain), IRI data reports. Nestlé saw sales increase a whopping 1,632% to $25 million; Blue Bunny, generated 78% YoY growth to $29 million; and Friendly’s grew its sales to $10 mllion, with a 34% YoY gain.
Bomb Pop, the classic ice pop brand from Le Mars, Iowa-based Wells Enterprises Inc., teamed up with candy brand Nerds to develop the ultimate flavor mash-up: Bomb Pop Nerds.