Ice Cream Production
- In 2024, ice cream makers in the U.S. churned out 1.31 billion gallons of ice cream.
- The ice cream industry has a $11.6 billion impact on the U.S. economy, supports 26,704 direct jobs, and generates $1.9 billion in direct wages, according to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers®.
- 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.
- The busiest months for ice cream production are March through September.
Ice Cream Marketing
- Families are the primary customer group for ice cream retailers.
- Ice cream marketing is primarily done on a local or regional level.
- While ice cream makers say they are seeing increased demand for non-dairy ice creams and plant-based ingredients, consumers rank these at the bottom of the list for most-consumed types of ice cream and frozen desserts.
- Premium and regular ice cream is 80% of the market, according to ice cream makers.
- Two-thirds of ice cream makers say they already use or plan to incorporate more sustainable packaging solutions.
- Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $132.32 billion in 2032, up from $79.08 billion in 2024—a 67% jump in less than a decade due to the world’s craving for ice cream.
Consumption
- The average American eats roughly 19 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons.
- Regular ice cream is the most popular category of frozen desserts.
America’s Favorites
IDFA in 2024 partnered with Morning Consult to survey America’s love for all things ice cream and frozen desserts. Full survey results are available here.
America’s top 10 favorite ice cream flavors:
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Strawberry
- Butter Pecan
- Cookie Dough
- Cookies and Cream
- Mint Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate Chip
- Rocky Road
- Peanut Butter/PB Cup
What type of container do consumers prefer?
- Waffle cones beat out sugar cones 29% to 12% among consumers, but 27% of consumers prefer to eat their ice cream out of a bowl.
What type of toppings do consumers prefer?
- Hot fudge is the top ice cream topping at 35%, beating out caramel sauce at 24% and chocolate sauce at 21%. Whipped cream is the second most popular topping at 29%.
Which nuts do consumers prefer?
- Among nuts, pecans beat peanuts 17% to 16% among consumers. 23% of consumers reported not reaching for nuts to add on their ice cream.
What is the most popular fruit included with ice cream?
- Strawberries, at 27% of consumers. Bananas ranked second at 13%.
What is the most popular baked good included in ice cream?
- Brownies take the top spot (31%), followed by cake (22%) and cookies (17%).
When and how often do consumers eat ice cream?
- 73% of consumers consume ice cream at least once per week and 2 out of 3 consume ice cream in the evening.
Where do consumers eat their ice cream?
- 63% prefer to eat ice cream at home; 21% of younger Americans (18-34) prefer to eat theirs outdoors.
When weighing ice cream options, what consideration is most important to consumers?
- 94% of respondents said that ice cream flavor is the most important consideration, though four fifths of adults think size and price are important as well.
