When it comes to the global ice cream category, hand-held products are taking a bigger bite of new product activity, according to Innova market Insights.
Single-serve products accounted for a quarter of global ice cream launches recorded by Innova Market Insights in the 12 months to the end of October 2014, up from 22 per cent five years ago.
Single-serve lines look to be most popular in Asia, where they accounted for 40 per cent of all ice cream introductions, compared with 20 per cent in Europe and 12 per cent in the US, where hand-held ice creams still fall into the frozen novelties market.
“The hand-held ice cream market is working hard to move on from its weather-dependant summer-only image,” says Lu Ann Williams, director of innovation at Innova Market Insights.
“The sector varies across a whole range of product types, from ice lollies for children to premium chocolate snacks for adults, and encompasses a wide range of formats including bars, sticks and cones, all offering a convenient, individual snack or treat suitable for any occasion and all types of consumer.”
Another key trend, according to Innova, is the move of the gelato category from foodservice into the retail market.
