Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts in the U.S.: Markets and Opportunities in Retail and Foodservice, 6th Edition

The U.S. market for ice cream and related frozen desserts neared $25 billion in 2009, with sales growth from previous years slowed somewhat by the recessionary economy. Manufacturers of retail frozen desserts and operators in the frozen dessert foodservice industry (which accounts for better than half of total category sales) adjusted their prices in order (or held the price line and reduced package sizes) to keep consumers screaming for ice cream instead of about how much it cost. Price controls and price-based promotions are likely to stay in effect as the economy slowly rebounds. So, too are cost-saving trends like the consolidation of companies and brands, as in the case of Hood and Brighams, and industry production and administrative facilities, as practiced most notably by Unilever.

But, as the Packaged Facts report on ice cream and other frozen desserts - including ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, frozen custard, water ices, non-dairy frozen desserts and frozen novelties - notes, keeping prices down will not be enough to expand sales. To do that, manufacturers and foodservice operators alike will be looking to build on the trends that have emerged over the past two years, notably a taste for tart frozen yogurt that features good-for-you probiotic bacteria that improve digestion. The Packaged Facts report suggests the likelihood of probiotics being added to other frozen desserts and includes coverage of other healthy ingredients that may soon be showing up in value-added health-oriented frozen dessert products such as prebiotics (that make probiotics more efficient), Omega-3, and...

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O.C. frozen yogurt chain to open drive-through shop

September 13th, 2010, 8:28 am · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer - The Orange County Register

There’s a new twist to the intense frozen yogurt competition in Southern California.
Buena Park-based Cherry on Top plans to open a drive through yogurt shop at the end of the month in Los Angeles near Culver City. The chain claims, and I’d have to agree, that this will be the “first drive-thru store of its kind and a first for any leading frozen yogurt company.”
“This will give guests the opportunity to come in the store for a self-serve experience, or go though the drive-thru for a quick fix,” company founder David Kim said.
Frozen dessert sales increased 2 percent to $25 billion in 2009, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.  A bulk of that growth was generated from the frozen yogurt sector, which has grown in popularity since Pinkberry debuted its tart swirly desserts to consumers in 2005.


I wonder how it will work to order toppings at the drive-thru?

 The 30-unit Cherry on Top, founded in 2007, has been one of the more successful brands to enter the market, which has been flooded with dozens of concepts over the last few years.  Many businesses have closed due to over-saturation amid  fierce competition.