The global market for Italian ice cream is worth over €15 billion, with an average annual growth of 4% between 2015 and 2018, according to L'Osservatorio Sigep.
Classic flavours such as pistachio remain the best-sellers, but the trends for 2017 include flavours linked to exotic destinations, such as lime, mango, ginger, mint, coconut and passion fruit. Significantly, there is also a growing interest in free-from flavours and plant-based ingredients.
International Markets
The organisation reports positive growth signals for Italian exports to Asia, Australia, and the US. According to Euromonitor and Mintel data, Italian ice cream accounts for about 5% of the $14.3 billion US ice cream market, but sales are projected to increase this year.
Italy has become the leading EU producer of ice cream, with 595 million litres placed on the market in 2016, accounting for 19% of the EU total. According to Eurostat figures reported by Ansa, Germany was second (515 million) followed by France (454 million).
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
