2023
8
China Ice Cream Market Report 2023
2023-09-02T04:47:18+01:00
REP376302F2_0AC3_4F39_A872_9AEE4048C058
3695
166301
[{"name":"Desserts and Ice Cream","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/desserts-ice-cream"}]
Report
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“On-premise ice cream innovations, such as gelato (a special type of ice cream), as well as creative use of regional ingredients, can inspire packaged ice cream products following recovery of…
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  8. China Ice Cream Market Report 2023

China Ice Cream Market Report 2023

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“On-premise ice cream innovations, such as gelato (a special type of ice cream), as well as creative use of regional ingredients, can inspire packaged ice cream products following recovery of outdoor consumption scenarios. In addition, with the evolving behaviour of consuming ice cream throughout the year, developing seasonal products to tap into different seasons and climates can help brands stand out from competitors and extend consumption.”

– Rika Huang, Research Analyst

Key Issues covered in this Report

  • Future market outlook and growth prospects in the next five years.
  • Latest product trends and growth opportunities.
  • Opportunity for multi-layer ice cream innovation.
  • Consumption trends and changes in product usage.
  • Perception of different ice cream bases.
Collapse All
  1. Overview

    • What you need to know
      • Key Issues covered in this Report
        • Covered in this Report
          • Definition
          • Executive Summary

              • The market
                • Figure 1: Retail market value and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
                • Figure 2: Retail market volume and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
              • Companies and brands
                • Leading players continue to hold or consolidate their dominance
                  • Figure 3: Leading ice cream companies, by value share, 2021 and 2022
                • Plant-based ice cream squeezes the share of dominant dairy-based ice cream in NPD, while lava fillings are on the rise
                  • The consumer
                    • Leverage comprehensive product portfolio to achieve sustainable premiumisation
                      • Figure 4: Consumption frequency, 2023
                    • Oat and milk bases target children while chocolate pairs with fruit to stay trendy
                      • Figure 5: Base perception, 2023
                    • Multi-layer textures, especially those related to chocolate, can excite consumers to explore
                      • Figure 6: Multi-layer texture, 2023
                    • Premiumisation raises consumer concern
                      • Figure 7: Mean and median of price sensitivity at different levels, 2023
                      • Figure 8: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                    • Differentiating taste innovation and formula optimisation around trans fat can attract consumers to spend more
                      • Figure 9: Innovative claims, 2023
                    • Ice cream for winter and clean label are innovative directions worth considering
                      • Figure 10: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                      • Figure 11: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                    • What we think
                    • Issues and Insights

                      • Revamping milk ice cream for summer via texture innovation
                        • Figure 12: Summer food & drink, 2023
                        • Figure 13: Examples of ‘light’ milk ice cream, China, 2023
                        • Figure 14: Examples of fresh fruits filled with milk ice cream, China, 2022
                        • Figure 15: Examples of Lotte Soh products, Japan, 2022-23
                        • Figure 16: The size of the fine ice contained in Lotte Coolish in different seasons, Japan, 2022
                      • Whipping up indulgence of ice cream to help lift mood in winter
                        • Figure 17: Examples of Lotte Monaoh ice cream with rich flavour, Japan, 2023
                        • Figure 18: Examples of ice cream for winter in dessert format or with dessert mix-ins, Japan, 2022-21
                        • Figure 19: Comfort food association – cake/ice cream, 2021
                        • Figure 20: Examples of Magnum Ruby Collection and Magnum Ruby Room, China and UK, 2020
                      • Developing packaged gelato with regional ingredients to target Eastern market
                          • Figure 21: Word Cloud on social media channels* associated with ‘gelato’, 2023
                          • Figure 22: Examples of launches from Ice Kirin Gelato, China, 2023
                      • Market Size and Forecast

                        • Extreme heat, premiumisation and channel recovery drive the growth of ice cream consumption
                          • Figure 23: Retail market value and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
                          • Figure 24: Retail market volume and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
                      • Market Factors

                        • Financial status is improving but confidence is fluctuating
                          • Figure 25: Changes in financial situation, 2022-23
                          • Figure 26: Confidence in future financial situation, 2022-23
                        • Eating out spending begins to rebound
                          • Figure 27: Spending more – Eating out and in-home food, 2022-23
                        • Frequent extreme heat may lift consumers’ demand for cooling down
                        • Market Share

                          • Domestic dairy behemoths achieved strong growth
                            • Figure 28: Leading ice cream companies, by value share, 2021 and 2022
                            • Figure 29: Leading ice cream companies, by volume share, 2021 and 2022
                          • Comprehensive product portfolio and innovation help Unilever grow
                            • Global recall of Häagen-Dazs vanilla-flavoured ice cream hurts company performance
                              • Zhong Xue Gao maintained steady performance amidst public outcry
                                • Figure 30: Examples of Zhong Xue Gao products with high price, China, 2022-23
                            • Marketing Activities

                              • From regional flavour to regional culture
                                • Figure 31: Examples of ice cream launches connecting with regional culture, China, 2023
                                • Figure 32: Examples of Hey Tea city-limited products, China, 2023
                              • Eastern aesthetics vitalised in ice cream
                                • Figure 33: Deluxe persimmon- and pumpkin-flavoured ice cream, China, 2022
                                • Figure 34: Examples of ice cream launched by Häagen-Dazs and tourist attractions, China, 2022
                              • Leverage different formats to tap into more consumption occasions
                                • Figure 35: Communication about consumption scenarios of Qi Xuan Xuan Ling Long Ice Cream, China, 2023
                                • Figure 36: Example of Wall’s Viennetta ice cream in nearly 300g pack, China, 2023
                              • Soy sauce ice cream sparks discussion but the contribution to the products and brands is uncertain
                                • Figure 37: Examples of soy sauce ice cream, China, 2023
                            • New Product Trends

                              • Dairy base remains innovation focus but share declines
                                • Figure 38: New product launches in ice cream, by subcategory, China, 2018/19-2022/23
                                • Figure 39: New plant-based ice cream & frozen yogurt launches, by brand, 2020/21-2022/23
                                • Figure 40: New entrants of plant-based ice cream, China, 2023
                              • Claim overview: ‘minus’ claims soar while ice cream for children emerges
                                • Figure 41: New product launches in ice cream, by claim category, 2018/19-2022/23
                                • Figure 42: Examples of ice cream launches with low/no/reduced glycaemic and sugar-free claims, China, 2023
                                • Figure 43: Examples of ice cream for children, China, 2023
                              • Use of lava filling increases to provide sensory stimulation
                                • Figure 44: New ice cream product launches of selected launch type – new variety/range extension and new product, by texture, 2018/19-2022/23
                                • Figure 45: Examples of ice cream launches with lava filling, China, 2022-23
                              • Alcohol-infused ice cream becomes more diverse
                                • Figure 46: Examples of packaged ice cream with alcohol, China 2023
                            • Consumption Frequency

                              • Ice cream made on the spot harvests more heavy users
                                • Figure 47: Consumption frequency, 2023
                                • Figure 48: Change of consumption frequency, 2022-23
                              • Packaged ice cream is losing heavy users with low household income
                                • Figure 49: Change of heavy users – packaged ice cream, by gender, city tier and monthly household income, 2022 and 2023
                              • Meticulously sourced flavour innovations from on-premise channels can help packaged ice cream grow
                                • Figure 50: Change of heavy users – ice cream made on the spot, by gender, city tier and monthly household income, 2022 and 2023
                                • Figure 51: Selected innovative claims, by selected consumer behaviour, 2023
                            • Base Perception

                              • Oat-based milk can be positioned as a better-for-you base
                                • Figure 52: Base perception, 2023
                              • Milk and oat-based milk are suitable as ice cream base for children
                                  • Figure 53: Base perception – nutritious, by marital status, 2023
                                • Chocolate ice cream can draw inspiration from chocolate confectionery flavour innovation
                                  • Figure 54: Base perception of chocolate – trendy, by generation, 2023
                                  • Figure 55: Multi-layer texture, by perception of chocolate – trendy, 2023
                                  • Figure 56: New ice cream launches, by share of chocolate and fruit blend flavour, unordered, China, 2018/19-2022/23
                                  • Figure 57: New chocolate confectionery launches, by share of fruit flavour, unordered, China, 2018/19-2022/23
                              • Multi-layer Texture

                                • Chocolate primarily preferred in both coating and filling
                                  • Figure 58: Multi-layer texture, 2023
                                  • Figure 59: TURF Analysis – Multi-layer Texture, 2023
                                • Young female and affluent consumers are more willing to explore various multi-layered textures
                                  • Figure 60: Example of Magnum Double collection, China, 2023
                                  • Figure 61: Repertoire analysis – multi-layer texture, by monthly household income, gender and age, 2023
                                • Customise fillings and mix-ins with different coatings
                                  • Figure 62: Multi-layer texture fillings and mix-ins, by coatings, 2023
                              • Price Sensitivity

                                • The optimal price for ice cream is RMB8…
                                  • Figure 63: Mean and median of price sensitivity at different levels, 2023
                                  • Figure 64: Price sensitivity – optimal price, 2023
                                  • Figure 65: Price sensitivity – threshold prices, 2023
                                • …while average price for new offerings exceeds RMB12
                                  • Figure 66: New ice cream launches, by average price per 70ml/g, 2018/19-2022/23
                                  • Figure 67: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                                • Heavy users of packaged ice cream are less price-sensitive
                                  • Figure 68: Price sensitivity, by consumption frequency of packaged ice cream, 2023
                              • Innovative Claims

                                • Differentiating optimisation for ice cream with heavy or refreshing taste
                                  • Figure 69: Innovative claims, 2023
                                  • Figure 70: Consumer behaviour – selected item, 2023
                                  • Figure 71: Innovative claims, by heavy taste or refreshing taste, 2023
                                • Trans fat raises consumer concerns
                                  • Figure 72: TURF Analysis – Innovative claims, 2023
                                  • Figure 73: Mentions of ‘trans fat (反式脂肪)’ on social media channels*, 2022-23
                                  • Figure 74: UGC Word Cloud on social media channels* associated with ‘trans fat (反式脂肪)’, 2023
                                  • Figure 75: Consumer behaviour – selected item, 2023
                                  • Figure 76: Mentions of ingredients related to ‘trans fat (反式脂肪)’ on social media channels*, China, 2023
                                • Leverage packaged gelato to attract heavy users
                                  • Figure 77: Selected innovative claims, by consumption frequency of packaged ice cream, 2023
                                  • Figure 78: Mentions of ‘sorbet (雪葩) and gelato*’ on social media channels**, 2022-23
                                  • Figure 79: Geographic distribution of mentions related to gelato on social media channels*, 2023
                                  • Figure 80: Ranking of innovative claims, by respondents who choose ice cream of special types, 2023
                              • Consumer Behaviour

                                • Differentiating flavour and texture innovation for cold weather is demanded
                                  • Figure 81: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                                  • Figure 82: Purchasing seasonal flavoured food and drink, by spring/summer and autumn/winter, 2021-23
                                  • Figure 83: Selected innovative claims, by selected consumer behaviours, 2023
                                • Enriching the variety of alcohol and ice cream combination
                                    • Figure 84: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                                  • Optimise formula with shorter ingredient lists to cater to clean eating needs
                                      • Figure 85: Consumer behaviour – selected items, 2023
                                      • Figure 86: Consumer behaviour – statement about short ingredient list, by statement about inspecting ingredient list, 2023
                                  • Food Personas

                                    • Who are they?
                                        • Figure 87: Food persona, 2023
                                        • Figure 88: Food persona, by gender, 2023
                                        • Figure 89: Food persona, by generation, 2023
                                      • Highlighting refreshing taste of milk to attract new trend explorers
                                        • Figure 90: Base perception – refreshing, by food personas, 2023
                                      • Differentiating innovation for different persona types
                                        • Figure 91: Ranking of innovative claims, by food personas, 2023
                                    • Appendix – Market Size and Forecast

                                        • Figure 92: Total retail value sales and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
                                        • Figure 93: Total retail volume sales and forecast of ice cream, China, 2018-28
                                    • Appendix – Methodology and Abbreviations

                                      • Methodology
                                        • Abbreviations

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