Ice cream profits soar thanks to heatwave

A survey of the organisation’s members found 80% of respondents reported a rise in profits compared with the previous three years.

More than 84% of members said the heatwave had a positive impact on sales. One member reported reaching its half-year forecast sales in just one month. 

Vanilla was the best-selling flavour, with members also reporting the increased popularity of salted caramel flavoured ice cream.

A further 50% of respondents said sales of non-traditional ice cream products, such as lollies and soft drinks, also grew.

‘Successful summer period’ ​

Zelica Carr, chief executive of the Ice Cream Alliance, commented: “It’s great that our members have enjoyed such a successful summer period. ​

“The extreme temperatures we enjoyed across the UK, particularly in June and July, led to everyone in our industry working really hard … some of our members reported working 12 hour days to cope with demand.”​

The Ice Cream Alliance is the only trade association that operates in the UK’s ice cream industry, which is worth over £1bn a year.

Meanwhile, only half of the most popular vanilla ice creams on the high street have fresh milk, cream and vanilla on their list of ingredients​​, according to a consumer rights pressure group.