Chocolate ice cream, ice cream sandwiches top lists of favorite ice cream flavors and novelties, according to IDFA Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced the annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will take place on the National Mall on June 21, 2023. The celebration on the National Mall just outside the U.S. Capitol Building is one of Washington’s most anticipated for professionals working in food and agriculture, bringing together thousands of guests, including members of Congress and officials from the executive branch, in a fun event showcasing America’s favorite frozen treats.

This year’s Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will feature America’s top flavors, toppings, and ways to eat ice cream, as detailed by IDFA’s Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey, conducted by Research America. So, what’s the scoop? Chocolate, cookies n’ cream, and vanilla top the list of consumers’ favorite flavors. Sandwiches are the most popular novelty product, beating out cones 48% to 21%, followed by sticks/pops at 12%. Chocolate is the most popular topping sauce, topping caramel 26% to 18%. Waffle cones beat out sugar cones 32% to 12% among consumers, but 37% of consumers prefer to eat their ice cream out of a bowl.

Whether you prefer a bowl of chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce on top of it, or an ice cream sandwich, or a refreshing root beer float, the 39th Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will have a wide variety of America’s favorite ice cream treats available to you.

“Ice cream is as bipartisan as you can get,” said IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M. “IDFA’s Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party is our way of showing appreciation on behalf of America’s dairy producers and dairy foods makers to public servants, members of Congress and all the individuals working in Congress and in our federal agencies. Come out to the National Mall on June 21st to enjoy free ice cream and frozen desserts!”

The 39th Annual IDFA Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will take place at Union Square Park on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 21 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. The park is located west of the Capitol in the area encompassing the Capitol Reflecting Pool and the Grant Memorial.

IDFA Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey:

IDFA partnered with Research America in 2022 to study U.S. ice cream data and trends.

  • Top 5 flavors among consumers:
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies N’ Cream
    • Vanilla
    • Strawberry
    • Chocolate Chip
  • 73% of consumers consume ice cream at least once per week and 2 out of 3 consume ice cream in the evening.
  • Sandwiches are the most popular novelty product, beating out cones 48% to 21%, followed by sticks/pops at 12%.
  • Waffle cones beat out sugar cones 32% to 12% among consumers, but 37% of consumers prefer to eat their ice cream out of a bowl.
  • Chocolate is the most popular topping sauce, beating caramel 26% to 18%. Nuts and sprinkles are the most popular dry toppings, 15% and 14%, respectively.

Additional Ice Cream Stats

  • In 2022, ice cream makers in the U.S. churned out 1.38 billion gallons of ice cream.
  • The average American eats roughly 20 pounds of ice cream each year, or about 4 gallons.
  • Fortune Business Insights estimates the global ice cream market will reach $104.96 billion in 2029, up from $71.52 billion in 2021—a 46% jump in less than a decade due to the world’s craving for ice cream.
  • U.S. ice cream makers contribute $13.1 billion to the U.S. economy and support 28,800 dairy industry jobs, according to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers economic impact report.
  • 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.
  • In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with "appropriate ceremonies and activities."
  • Thomas Jefferson is credited as the first American to write down an ice cream recipe.
  • The busiest months for ice cream production are March through July.

More information about ice cream is available on IDFA’s website: www.idfa.org/news-views/media-kits/ice-cream.

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The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.3 million jobs that generate $41.6 billion in direct wages and $753 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent 90 percent of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.