Key Points Covered in this Report
- The global ice cream and frozen desserts market: key market factors and trends
- Japan’s ice cream and frozen desserts market: key market factors and trends
- Insights into Japanese consumer attitudes and behaviour towards ice cream and frozen desserts
- Business opportunities and considerations in the Japanese ice cream and frozen desserts market
Inflation is just one factor behind post-pandemic growth in the ice cream and frozen desserts market. With consumers keen to follow healthy diets – particularly so in Europe – there are signs that the health-consciousness wave is also hitting discretionary products like ice cream. Japanese consumers tend to seek emotional value from products like ice cream, which they often buy as a self-treat; for brands, a fusion of functional and emotional value is key.
Kimiaki Yamamoto, Associate Director – Food and Drink, Japan
Collapse All
-
Executive summary
- Key points covered in this Report
- Overview, scope of this Report, targets and definitions
- Global market overview and trends
- Market overview
- Trends in major industries
- Attention-grabbing trends
- Overview of the Japanese market and consumers
- Key market factors and noteworthy trends
- Consumer insights
- Opportunities in the Japanese market
- Key market opportunities
-
GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW
- Four topics regarding global key market factors
- Key market factors for ice cream
- Inflation behind retail sales growth
- Graph 1: ice cream retail sales (in USD), 2023
- Graph 2: ice cream retail sales index trend (in local currency)*, 2019-24
- Inconsistency in sales volume trends
- Graph 3: ice cream retail market segmentation by volume, 2023
- Graph 4: ice cream retail market sales volume index trends*, 2019-24
- Price of ice cream soars
- Graph 5: trends in unit sales price index per litre (in local currency)*, 2019-24
- Per capita sales volume falling in the UK
- Graph 6: per capita sales volume index trends*, 2019-24
- Packaging preferences differ across Europe, North America and Japan
- Graph 7: ice cream retail market sales volume, by packaging, 2022
- Cups/tubs dominate new launches in the US and Europe
- Graph 8: formats of new ice cream and frozen sweet products*, 2023-24
- New Zealand no. 1 in the world for per capita ice cream consumption
- Graph 9: per capita annual consumption (2023)
- Key market factors for frozen desserts
- US drives the frozen dessert market
- Graph 10: dessert retail sales (in USD), 2020
- Graph 11: desserts retail market segmentation by value (in local currency), 2020
- US drives the frozen dessert market
- Graph 12: dessert retail sales by volume, 2020
- Graph 13: dessert retail market segmentation by volume (in local currency), 2020
- Consumption of frozen desserts remains level, except in the US
- Graph 14: frozen dessert sales volume trends, 2017-21
- Ice cream and frozen desserts industry trends
- BFY food recommendations
- Efforts to raise cold chain temperatures
- The advent of a powerful ice cream company
- Tech innovation trends
- Sugar reduction technologies and alternative sugar ingredients
- Expanding opportunities for precision fermentation
- Evolving freezing technology
- Uses of AI technology
-
Global trends
- Global trends impacting the future of the industry
- Consumers want functional ice cream
- Functional ice cream market currently lacks momentum
- Graph 15: trends in functional claims for new ice cream products, 2019-24
- Examples of products with functional claims
- Dark clouds over the plant-based ice cream market
- Plant-based offerings yet to penetrate the market
- Graph 16: [no title]
- Plant-based offerings yet to penetrate the market
- Graph 17: trends in the prevalence of plant-based ice cream* among new products, 2019–24
- Time for a revamp: plant-based ice cream not offering enough value
- Graph 18: consumers affected by these issues in the past two months, 2023
- UPF scrutiny ushers in signs of a naturalness revival
- UPF receives heightened scrutiny from inside and outside the industry
- Graph 19: trends in the prevalence of natural claims in new ice cream products*, 2019-24
- Natural ingredients motivate purchasing in a certain proportion of consumers
- Graph 20: top 3 important factors when shopping for food* – natural ingredients, % agree, 2020-24
- Ice cream with 100% natural ingredients
- Expected innovations in ice cream
- Expectations for new ice cream flavours
- Graph 21: consumers who look for new foods to try* ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’, 2020-24
- Graph 22: factors influencing purchase when choosing ice cream as a treat for oneself – flavour I haven’t tried before, & agree, 2023
- Novelty backed by familiarity
- Graph 23: consumers who buy local food products* ‘always’ or ‘most of the time’, 2020-24
- Transcending categories with well-known brand collabs
- Emerging brand collaborations
- Proposing new eating habits/behaviours
- New taste combinations expand product flavours
- Retro revival
-
Japanese market overview
- Key Japanese market factors
- Record-high retail sales due to sales price hikes
- Ice cream: retail sales reach record high, but sales volume is plateauing
- Graph 24: trends in ice cream retail sales, 2016-24
- Graph 25: ice cream sales volume trends, 2016-24
- Frozen desserts: retail sales grow, but sales volume is flat
- Graph 26: frozen desserts retail sales trends, 2020-22
- Graph 27: trends in sales volume of frozen sweets, 2020-22
- Ice cream spending continues to grow more than spending on other Western confections
- Graph 28: ice cream consumption rate within the past six months, by gender and age, 2024
- Graph 29: expenditure per item by total households (Family Income and Expenditure Survey), 2014-23
- Prices continue to rise
- Graph 30: Consumer Price Index trends (based on 2020), 2020-24
- Household income showing no signs of increase
- Graph 31: average household income, 2003-22
- Price-consciousness transcends age and gender
- Graph 32: important factors when choosing ice cream in store, 2024
- Direction of added value
- Adding value with careful selection of milk
- Vanilla and chocolate are favourites in Japan
- Graph 33: flavour preferences, 2024
- Chocolate, strawberry and vanilla followed by new flavours
- Graph 34: flavour trends in new ice cream* launches, 2019-24
- Health-consciousness as added value
- Low/reduced sugar isn’t a top priority for shoppers
- Graph 35: top 3 important factors when shopping for food* – low sugar, % agree, 2019-24
- Consumers conscious of not eating enough healthy food
- Graph 36: frequency of eating healthily* – ‘all of the time’ or ‘most of the time’, % agree, 2020-24
- Strong connection between dairy products and health benefits
- Graph 37: understanding of health benefits*, 2023
- Consumers look for products contributing to intake of fruit, veg and nutrients (eg protein and dietary fibre)
- Graph 38: top three important factors to consider when food shopping*, 2024
- Plant-based ice cream still has limited presence in Japan
- Graph 39: trends in the sub-category segmentation of new ice cream* product launches, 2019-24
- Examples of plant-based ice cream in Japan
- Novelty backed by familiarity
- Collabs and retro styles stimulating purchase intent
- Expanding flavour–texture combinations
- Overseas companies and start-ups enter the market
- Taking a different approach to market entry
- New market arrivals
-
Japanese consumer insights
- Key consumer insights
- Glossary
- Price-conscious ice cream users welcome new added value
- Price-sensitivity doesn’t significantly affect ice cream consumption
- Graph 40: price-consciousness*, 2024
- Graph 41: important factors for ice cream and/or frozen dessert choice, by consumption of packaged ice cream or frozen desserts – cheap price is important, % agree, 2024
- Concern over ice cream prices linked to interest in a range of flavours
- Graph 42: flavour and texture preferences, by price-consciousness*, 2024
- Price-conscious consumers have various clear reasons for eating ice cream
- Graph 43: important factors for ice cream and/or frozen dessert choice, by reason for consumption – cheap price is important*, % agree, 2024
- Younger and lower-income households concerned about ice cream prices
- Graph 44: concern over the price of ice cream, by gender and age*, 2024
- Graph 45: important factors for ice cream and/or frozen dessert choice – cheap price, % agree, by household income*, 2024
- Dynamic consumption and future ice cream consumption
- Graph 46: important factors for ice cream and/or frozen dessert choice, by expected change in household spending for coming six months – cheap price is important, % agree, 2024
- Flavour preferences depend on motivations and occasions
- About half of ice cream consumers enjoy four or more flavours
- Graph 47: number of favourite flavours for packaged ice cream or frozen desserts (repertoire analysis*), 2024
- Heavy users prefer many flavours
- Graph 48: number of favourite flavours for packaged ice cream or frozen desserts, by user type* (repertoire analysis**), 2024
- Light users are motivated by fewer factors
- Graph 49: type of reasons for consumption, by user type* (repertoire analysis**), 2024
- Fans of rich ice cream flavours indulge for a variety of reasons
- Graph 50: reason for consumption, by flavour and texture preferences, 2024
- Occasion-specific expectations for ice cream
- Graph 51: reason for consumption, by eating occasion, 2024
- Flavour preferences change according to occasion
- Graph 52: flavour and texture preferences, by eating occasion, 2024
- Acceptance and expectations for plant-based ice cream
- Plant-based ice cream is a low priority
- Graph 53: frequency of consumption of various ice creams, 2024
- Women reward themselves with ice cream
- Graph 54: important factors for ice cream and/or frozen dessert choice, by age and gender – cheap price is important, % agree, 2024
- The gap between plant-based ice cream consumption and market needs
- Graph 55: plant-based ice cream user type*, by gender and age, 2024
- Enjoying both dairy and plant-based ice cream
- Graph 56: consumption of various ice cream types by heavy users* of plant-based ice cream, 2024
- Graph 57: consumption of various ice cream types by heavy users* of dairy ice cream, 2024
- Majority of health-conscious consumers have tried plant-based ice cream
- Graph 58: plant-based ice cream user type**, by health-consciousness*, 2024
- Health-conscious shoppers expect big things from ice cream
- Graph 59: reason for consumption, by health-consciousness*, 2024
- Heavy users of plant-based ice cream tempted by indulgent feel
- Graph 60: attractive flavour/features of ice cream and frozen desserts, by user type* – feels like a guilty indulgence, % agree, 2024
- Solo consumption of plant-based ice cream and health claims
- Graph 61: eating occasions, by user type* – socialising with friends or family, % agree, 2024
-
Opportunities in the Japanese market
- Market opportunities
- Offer ice cream that satisfies the mind and body
- Expectations for nutritional claims in ice cream
- Ingredient and nutrient claims in ice cream
- Fuse function and emotional value
- Fusing function and emotional value – insights from traditional medicine-inspired offerings
- New ice cream products: example concepts
- Redefine ice cream with enhanced occasions
- Tempt light and non-users with reasons and occasions to indulge
- Leverage sleep support and other benefits
- Pioneer new ice cream occasions
- Graph 62: eating occasions, by gender and age, 2024
- Encourage interest with limited-edition offerings
- Graph 63: flavours/features seen as attractive in an ice cream, 2024
- Japanese people drawn to limited-edition products
- Graph 64: flavour trial and attitudes* – I like trying limited-edition flavours, % agree, 2023
- New ice cream products: example concepts
- Frame ice cream as a delicious way to get enough nutrients
- Fruit and veg intake is a top priority, but purchases and consumption are still lagging
- Graph 65: top factors when shopping for food (top 3 priorities)* – contributes to your fruit/vegetable intake, % agree, 2020-24
- Graph 66: annual per capita supply of net food**, 1992-2022
- Growing demand for frozen fruit and veg
- Leverage ice cream that addresses malnutrition issues faced by seniors
- Offer ice creams that evokes meals or specific ingredients
- New ice cream products: example concepts
-
APPENDIX
- Research and analysis methods
Market Intelligence Made EasierWith Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
- Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
- Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
- Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
- Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
- Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
- Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
- Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
$ 4,995 (Excl.Tax)
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook available on our platform
-
Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Discount automatically applied in basket
Get in Touch
If you have a question about a Mintel Report, or you would like to learn more about our products, get in touch with a member of our team today.
Contact usTrusted by global industry leaders
At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.
Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.
When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.
The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.
Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.
As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.
We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.
Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.
They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.
So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.
Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
Get in Touch
If you have a question about a Mintel Report, or you would like to learn more about our products, get in touch with a member of our team today.
Contact us
