The North America ice cream market was valued at USD 27,701.35 million and it is projected to witness a CAGR of 0.12% during the forecast period (2021 -2026).
Consumers in the North American region had been avoiding cold food for COVID-19 fear, supply chain disruptions impacted the ice cream sales and a lot of consumers are avoiding ice cream as they feel it can contract cold and get infected by the deadly coronavirus. Further, the drop in consumption is largely due to adherence to prescribed norms of movement restriction, which has led to the closure of retail channels, vending carts, etc. and hence the drop in consumption.
The region has witnessed a rise in demand for premium ice creams, which would be one of the primary factors driving the market growth. Few of those premium ice creams have gained popularity among health-conscious consumers due to the presence of low calorie / no sugar claims compared to regular ice creams. In 2018, Ben & Jerry’s launched ice cream with 60-70% less fat and 35% fewer calories than its traditional ice creams.
The region has witnessed rising health concerns, owing to this, consumers across the region are preferring ice cream products that are GMO-free, preservative-free, dairy-free, low in calories, and organic and fat-free in nature. Owing to bulk availability and relatively higher price of takeaway ice creams, the segment recorded the largest revenue in the US market. Moreover, these ice creams gain greater attention from consumers in retail stores, owing to value packs offered by the companies, leading consumers to do the purchase.
Key Market Trends
Increased Product Innovations is Boosting the Market Demand
With an aim to gain a competitive advantage and to appeal to North American consumers, ice cream manufacturers are creating products with premium and innovative ingredients. This, in turn, increases their customer base too. Furthermore, the favorable regulations also cater to the innovations in the market studied. In May 2019, the FDA held a public hearing on the legalization of cannabidiol in the country. Thus, key players are tapping this opportunity and introducing new products with an aim to differentiate their offering. For instance, in 2019, Ben & Jerry initiated the launch of CBD-infused ice cream. The company plans to source its future CBD locally from Vermont, keeping coordinated with its practices of ‘values-led sourcing’. Savory-flavored ice cream remains an attractive segment among the United States consumers. Thus, manufacturers are investing in collaborations and researches to produce innovative savory flavored ice cream in the US market. In July 2019, the American food company French’s partnered with the dessert company Coolhaus to launch thoughtfully-crafted mustard-flavored ice cream.
Take-home Ice-Cream Forms the Major Share
The increased demand for take-home ice creams in the North American region is driven by the increasing number of occasions and gatherings at home where ice creams are consumed as a snack or dessert. Moreover, the snacking trend across the region encourages consumers to opt for a variety of snacks, including ice cream, for at-home consumption. The take-home ice cream segment is further supported by manufacturers focusing on developing innovative and flexible packaging materials through strategic partnerships, which is propelling the demand for take-home ice cream in the region. For instance, In 2019, Nestlé announced its partnership with Loop, a subscription home delivery service for foods and household goods with reusable packaging. With the partnership, Häagen-Dazs, a Nestlé brand in the United States and Canada, launched a reusable double-walled steel ice cream container that elevates the consumer experience and keeps the ice cream at optimal condition during transport and consumption. The growing snacking trend, supported by companies’ focus to develop various take-home packaging formats, is anticipated to drive the segment’s growth
Competitive Landscape
The North America ice cream market is a highly competitive market and comprises regional and international competitors. The market is dominated by players, like Unilever, Nestle SA, General Mills Inc., and Blue Bell Creameries. The leading players in the ice cream market enjoy a dominant presence across the North American region. These players focus on leverage opportunities posed by emerging markets to expand their product portfolio so that they can cater to the requirements of consumers.
Reasons to Purchase this report:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
- Click here to buy the report.
