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Just the Facts

Overview

• About 1.53 billion gallons of ice cream and related frozen desserts were produced in the U.S. in 2011. Source: USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service
• The U.S. ice cream industry generated total revenues of $10 billion in 2010, with take-home ice cream sales representing the largest section of the market, generating revenues of $6.8 billion or 67.7 percent of the market’s overall value. Source: MarketLine, an Informa business.
• The majority of U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturers have been in business for more than 50 years and many are still family-owned businesses. Source: IDFA ice cream company survey, 2012

Production

• The central region of the U.S. led production of ice cream and related frozen products, producing 726 million gallons in 2011. Source:  USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service
• The U.S. dairy industry produced approximately 20 quarts per capita in 2010, the most recent data available.
• Frozen dairy production follows a clear seasonal pattern. Summer is the unchallenged season for eating ice cream and other related products. Production kicks up in March and April to fi ll retail and foodservice pipelines in the late spring and early summer. June is the highest production month of the year, but production remains strong through August to satisfy summer demand. Production declines through the end of the year.

 Sales

• According to a recent survey of International Ice Cream Association member companies, vanilla remains the most popular flavor among their consumers.  Companies said that Chocolate Chip Mint and Cookies and Cream were the next most popular flavors. Source: IDFA ice cream company survey, 2012
• The majority of ice cream and frozen desserts are marketed regionally. More than 66.7 percent of U.S. ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturers say they market their products regionally, with 16 percent marketing nationally.  The international market accounts for 10 percent and 6.7 percent market locally only. Source: IDFA ice cream company survey, 2012
• The ice cream companies that market products around the world identify Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America as importers. Source: IDFA ice cream company survey, 2012
• Premium ice cream, which tends to have lower amount of aeration and higher fat content than regular ice cream, is the most popular product with consumers according to a recent survey of U.S. ice cream manufacturers.  In the survey, 79.3 percent cited premium ice cream as the most popular product made while 10 percent said that novelties are most popular.  Novelties are defined as separately packaged single servings of a frozen dessert -- such as ice cream sandwiches and fudge sticks. Source: IDFA ice cream company survey, 2012