Customized Report Service – Frozen novelty desserts in North America

Retail sales of frozen pudding desserts and ice cream

Canada

In 2018, retail sales of frozen novelty food products in Canada totaled approximately US$1.4 billion. This food segment category has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% between 2014 and 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2018 to 2021.

Take-home and bulk, dairy-based ice cream had the largest sales at US$828.8 million, followed by dairy-based, impulse - single served ice cream at US$306.3 million in 2017. Smaller segments included dairy-based & soy-based frozen pudding desserts, followed closely by artisanal ice cream products. All segments within the frozen novelty food category have been growing at a moderate CAGR (2014 to 2017).

United States

In 2018, retail sales of frozen novelty food products in the United States totaled approximately US$12.2 billion. This food segment category has been growing at a CAGR of 2.8% between 2014 and 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2018 to 2021.

Much like Canadian consumption trends, Take-home and bulk, dairy-based ice cream had the largest sales at US$8.4 billion, followed by dairy-based, impulse - single served ice cream at US$1.7 billion in 2017. However, proportionately to Canadian sales, artisanal ice cream products are more popular in the US with a much larger and close proximity to the top aforementioned segments representing a retail sales value of US$1.2 billion. All segments within the frozen novelty food category have been growing at a moderate CAGR (2014 to 2017), whereby dairy-based & soy-based frozen pudding desserts are growing the slowest at a CAGR of 1.6% over the same period.

Competitive landscape of ice cream products

Canada

GlobalData Intelligence, reports on retail sales for 11 trademark owner companies located throughout Canada. In 2017, top Canadian ice cream companies and brands were Unilever (Breyers, Magnum, Popsicle) at 35.9% sales value, Nestlé - S.A. (Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Rolo) at 34.7%, and Chapman's ice cream brands at 10.4%. In 2017, artisanal owners represented 2.1% and private label owners had 13.0% market sales share.

Cookies & cream frozen dairy dessert

Launched in the Canadian market by Unilever in October, 2018.

Breyers Delights Cookies & Cream Frozen Dairy Dessert features 16 grams (g) of protein and 360 calories per pack. The kosher certified product retails in a 500 millilitres (ml) pack bearing the Dairy Farmers of Canada Quality Milk logo. Also, available in creamy chocolate and vanilla bean frozen dairy dessert flavours.

Rum Apple Pie ice cream

Launched in the Canadian market by Nestlé in April, 2018.

This product comprises a rum infused and apple flavoured ice cream with graham pie pieces. The kosher certified product is said to be made with 100% Canadian milk and retails in a 475ml pack bearing the Dairy Farmers of Canada Quality Milk logo. Also, available in matcha green tea and cookies and cream flavoured ice cream.

United States

GlobalData Intelligence, reports on retail sales for 33 trademark owner companies located throughout the US. In 2017, top American ice cream companies and brands were Unilever (Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, Popsicle) at 21.2% retail sales, Nestlé - S.A. (Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Edy's) at 15.0%, and Wells Enterprises Incorporation (Blue Bunny and Weight Watchers) at 7.5%. Artisanal owners represented 10.3% and private label owners had 14.6% market sales share in 2017.

Foodservice distribution of ice cream (on-trade)

In 2018, ice cream within the foodservice industry throughout Canada contributed to an on-trade value of US$243.8 million and US$11.7 billion throughout the United States. Foodservice profit operators selling ice cream products throughout North America represented on average 92.5% of the market sales, distributed mainly on average in the restaurant services (66.0%), slightly higher in Canada. Further distribution of profit operator foodservice sales differed by country, whereby other popular channels throughout North America were retail foodservice providers (US), leisure operators (US), and accommodation outlets (Canada). Meanwhile, in 2018, institutional non-profit cost operators held the remaining average market sales share throughout North America of 7.5% distributed in the educational services (4.2%), welfare and services (1.4%), healthcare services (1.2%), and the military and civil defense services at 1.0%.

Product launch and trend analysis of frozen novelty desserts

Frozen dessert products

Mintel indicates that there were 3,886 new frozen dessert products launched into North American retail

stores (including new variety/range extension, packaging, formulation or relaunched). Canada represented 1,022 new products and the United States had 2,864 new products launched between the period of January 2014 and November 2019. In particularly, Canada domestically manufactured 322 of these frozen desserts and the United States manufactured 656 products, while the top three other manufacturers were Italy (65), France (16), and Germany (15).

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	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019 (January to November)	Total
United States	484	477	502	467	505	429	2864
Canada	268	199	205	142	103	105	1022

Source: Mintel, 2019

The top two North American companies to launch new products over the last 5 years (2014 to November 2019) were Nestlé Dreyer's Ice Cream and Unilever, whereby top domestic Canadian frozen dessert manufacturers were Nestlé (15), Walmart (31) and Kroger (4). Top domestic American manufacturers of frozen desserts were H-E-B with 72 new launches, Wells Enterprises (26) and Target (17). Furthermore, top domestic Canadian manufactured brands launched were Irresistibles (28), Great Value (23) and Open Nature (1) and top American brands launched were So Delicious Dairy Free (18), PC President's Choice (15) and Market Pantry (15).

Most frozen desserts were distributed within supermarkets by 55.5%, mass merchandise/hypermarkets (21.4%), and natural/health food stores (11.0%). Only 1.0% of the frozen desserts were distributed from within convenience stores or drug store/pharmacies. The largest sub-category was dairy-based frozen products (mostly ice cream based) by 70.1%, followed by frozen desserts in general at 11.4%, water-based ice lollies, pops and sorbets (11.0%), and plant-based ice cream and frozen yogurt products (dairy alternatives) at 6.3%.

Among these 3,886 North American frozen dessert products the top ingredient claims were sugar-based products (3,649), natural (2,624), soy derived (1,806), coconut oil derived (1,372) and fat free products (903). Top frozen dessert flavour or blends were chocolate, vanilla/vanilla bourbon/vanilla Madagascar, strawberry, cookies & cream, and mango. Other popular added flavour components consisted of salted caramel/caramelised flavouring, fudge, cheesecake, peanut butter, dark/black chocolate and mint flavour.

These North American frozen dessert products most often came in a cup/tub format type (54.9%), followed by stick format (18.5%), sandwich or bar format (8.3%), and in a cone (3.1%). Top package types consisted of tub, flexible, carton, jar and tray packaging standards.

Product examples – Canada

Wild Blueberry Frozen Greek Yogurt

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	Wal-Mart
Brand	Our Finest
Sub-category	Dairy based ice cream and frozen yogurt
Country	Manufactured in Canada, not imported
Related claims	Kosher, low/no/reduced fat, premium
Store name/type	Walmart, merchandise/hypermarket
Launch type	New variety/range extension
Date published	January 2014
Price in Canadian dollars	4.97

Our Finest Wild Blueberry Frozen Greek Yogurt is made with wild blueberry pieces and 100% Canadian milk. This frozen yogurt is made with finest, premium quality ingredients, and offers a rich and creamy indulgence that is low in fat and has 5g of protein per 125ml serving. The kosher certified product is comprised of natural flavours, and retails in a 1.5 litres (L) pack.

Avocado Lime Artisan Sorbet

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	Belly Ice Cream
Brand	Belly
Sub-category	Water-based ice lollies, pops & sorbets
Country	Market Canada
Related claims	All natural product
Store name/type	Fortinos, supermarket
Launch type	New product
Date published	April 2019
Price in Canadian dollars	6.99

Belly Avocado Lime Artisan Sorbet is described as a luxury ice cream made with an obsession for detail and produced in small batches with scratch made ingredients. This 100% natural product is made with lime zest, lime juice and hass avocado, and retails in a 500ml pack bearing the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter logos. This artisan sorbet is available in blackberry lemon flavour and is also, available in several other ice cream flavours: vanilla bean, chocolate dipped strawberry, blueberry cheesecake, and salted caramel.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Small Batch Gelato Frozen Dessert

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	Fiasco Gelato
Brand	Fiasco Winter Collection
Sub-category	Dairy based ice cream and frozen yogurt
Country	Manufactured in Canada, not imported
Related claims	Seasonal, gluten free*, low/no/reduced allergen
Store name/type	IGA, supermarket
Launch type	New product
Date published	December 2017
Price in Canadian dollars	9.59

Fiasco Winter Collection Sticky Toffee Pudding Small Batch Gelato Frozen Dessert is made with ingredients that are never outsourced and quality milk from Canadian dairy farmers. This product retails in a reusable 562ml pack featuring the Certified B Corporation, Impact Conscious, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter logos.

*: Also, available in other gluten free, low allergen flavours: Classic eggnog, chocolate peppermint.

Product examples – United States

Caramel Pecan Ice Cream

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet
Brand	High Road
Sub-category	Dairy based ice cream and frozen yogurt
Country	Market United States
Related claims	Gluten free, low/no/reduced allergen, hormone free
Store name/type	Wegmans, supermarket store
Launch type	New variety/range extension
Date published	August 2019
Price in US dollars	4.99

High Road Caramel Pecan Ice Cream is described as praline pecans and caramel in rich brown butter caramel ice cream. The vat pasteurized product is said to be made with ingredients all made in house and contains 16% butterfat. It is claimed to be a luxury ice cream made by chefs and retails in a 1 pint pack featuring the Instagram logo.

Acai Superfruit Bites

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	Sambazon
Brand	Sambazon
Sub-category	Water-based frozen ice lollies, pops and sorbets
Country	Manufactured in United States, not imported
Related claims	Kosher, organic, gluten free, antioxidant, low/no/reduced allergen, GMO and dairy free
Store name/type	Costco Club Store
Launch type	New variety/range extension
Date published	September 2019
Price in US dollars	12.99

This product comprises of an exotic and refreshing flavor of acai berry sorbet dipped in rich artisan dark chocolate. According to the manufacturer, açai is a delicious purple berry that grows on the banks of the Amazon, which has been long treasured by natives for its restorative powers, and is widely considered to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. It features following benefits: naturally sugar free; packed with antioxidants; full of omegas; and loads of trace minerals and nutrients. This United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic kosher certified sorbet contains 50 calories and 4 grams sugar, and is free from dairy and gluten. The pack contains 24 24g wrapped bites and is said to have a smooth and creamy texture.

Hand Made Fruit Sorbet in Natural Fruit Shells

Source: Mintel, 2019

Company	Island Way Products
Brand	Island Way
Sub-category	Dairy based ice cream and frozen yogurt
Country	Manufactured in South Africa by Dynamic Commodities, market United States
Related claims	Kosher, Halal, gluten/hormone/GMO free, low/no/reduced allergen
Store name/type	Costco Club Store
Launch type	New packaging
Date published	January 2018
Price in US dollars	10.99

Island Way Hand Made Fruit Sorbet in Natural Fruit Shells have been repackaged. This product includes twelve units with four flavors: heavenly coconuts; ruby red berry; zesty pomegranates; and passionate mangoes. The kosher and halal certified sorbets are free from gluten and GMO and contain a touch of rBST-free cream for a smooth and decadent finish. It is also stated that each fruit shell reduces the need for unnecessary packaging and waste towards sustainability, as it is biodegradable and a great source of nutrition for plants.

Customized Report Service – Frozen novelty desserts in North America
Global Analysis Report

Prepared by: Erin-Ann Chauvin, Senior Market Analyst

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