The New Ice Cream Boom: Premium & Better-For-You Growth

Ice cream is changing. Not in the sensational "industry disruption" sense, but in the functional, dollars-on-the-table sense. Purchasers and retailers increasingly observe more demand for premium buckets, plant-based packaging, and better-for-you frozen treats. Some brands emphasize protein. Others emphasize clean labels. Dessert lovers desire indulgence, but they also desire agency. Retailers are aware and reconfigure freezer space accordingly. In essence, demand is shifting to value and uniqueness. And the timing is right. The category is increasing, margins are bettering, and the suppliers are driving new formats quicker than ever before. If you resell or source ice cream, this guide enables you to see where growth is really occurring.

Ice cream keeps evolving without losing its comfort factor. In 2026, the global market is expected to sit at about USD 125.42 billion, then steadily climb toward roughly USD 152.96 billion by 2031, growing at a 4.05% CAGR. What’s pushing that lift is a shift in expectations. People still want indulgence, yet they also scan labels. That mix is driving interest in lighter formats, functional additions, and allergen-aware recipes. As a result, producers are stretching beyond classic dairy, experimenting with new bases and textures while keeping the experience familiar enough to come back for another scoop.

Regional Insights: Where Demand Is On The Rise

Zoom in on geography and the trend is obvious. Some areas purchase more ice cream, others manufacture more, and others are only just discovering premium and better-for-you formats. Essentially, that translates to room to grow.

• North America
  With 30.87% of global revenue in 2025, the region runs on routine. About 73% of consumers eat ice cream weekly, often at night, which keeps volumes steady. Wide distribution, parlor traditions, seasonal launches, and premium and plant-based lines reinforce demand.
• Asia-Pacific
  The region leads growth at a 6.15% CAGR through 2031. Urban lifestyles in China and India drive higher intake, while foodservice, online sales, localized flavors, and improving cold chains allow brands to scale faster.
• Europe
  Growth remains measured and policy-led. Tight standards on labeling, safety, and sustainability guide product design, while Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands rely on artisanal styles and tourism-driven premium consumption.
• South America & Middle East / Africa
  Cold-chain gaps still slow expansion, yet cities like Brazil and the UAE show rising imports and health-aware demand. Progress hinges on logistics upgrades and gradual shifts in buying habits.

That says something. These markets are no longer pursuing volume. They seek quality, storytelling, and ingredients that resonate with a contemporary consumer.

Essentially, it's your opportunity to position better-for-you SKUs, premium flavors, or vegan formats in markets that are dynamically redefining their freezer shelves.

Ice cream breathes and dies in logistics. Sounds dramatic, but it is a fact. A compromised cold chain ruins texture, creates ice crystals, and does damage to the brand before it reaches retail. This is where wholesalers and distributors really win or lose.

More brands are importing as demand rises in the markets of Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

• plant milks (oat, coconut, almond)
• premium add-ins (gourmet chocolate, pistachios, toasted nuts)
• packaging improvements (paperboard tubs, printed foil packaging)

Clearly, those take more rigorous logistics.

Premium ice cream demand worldwide has revealed vulnerabilities in cold-chain stability. Texture degrades when temperature varies. Stabilizers and process upgrades are now being employed by the industry to enable products to endure longer distances.

And yes, that impacts margins. Because each time the temperature rises, someone loses money.

By 2026, the largest restraints are no longer only import lead time. They are:

• Availability of freezer space at retail
• Cold-chain temperature consistency from port through store
• Optimizing SKU format for transportation efficiency (bars are transported better than tubs)

A brand may have the finest plant-based ingredients in the world, but when the cold chain fails, the customer only sees ice shreds, not the product's true value.

For the person in distribution or sourcing, ask the suppliers straightforward questions such as:

"Do you have information on how your product performs under temperature variation?"

"What is the suggested maximum time out of the freezer during unloading?"

These are not trivial ones. These ensure your profit.

Demand is changing since individuals desire desserts that taste premium but consistent with contemporary consuming patterns. This influences which SKUs sell more quickly. Essentially, being aware of these changes enables buyers to select improved providers and steer clear of slow-moving products.

Premiumisation and indulgence meets experience

Consumers don't merely "eat" ice cream anymore; they desire something that is special. Multi-layer bars, vibrant colors, and textured mix are winning out. According to Barry Callebaut, 67% of consumers like multiple flavors and 53% are attracted to strong, visually appealing formats. To consumers, this translates as: inventory SKUs with layers, inclusions, and upscale packaging instead of plain tubs.

Better-for-you, plant-based and clean labels

Vegan and dairy-free ice cream continues to gain momentum. ITAC Professional features expansion in vegan and lower-sugar formats. Consumers also seek cleaner labels and fewer artificial ingredients citing demand for lower sugar and functional benefits. Essentially, stock suppliers that provide oat, almond, or coconut bases, along with protein-enriched or sugar-reduced versions.

Sustainability, ethical sourcing and packaging

Sustainability is increasingly linked to value perception. According to an arXiv study, consumers pay a premium when they understand production adheres to better welfare standards. For ice cream, this means ethical dairy sourcing, recyclable packaging, or plant-based products reducing environmental footprint. Buyers become more powerful by selecting suppliers that can substantiate these claims, it helps facilitate premium pricing as well as retailer trust.

On-the-go and convenience formats

Single-serve packages are in vogue. Impulse and bar formats are making a comeback because everyone is out and about again. Retailers need rapid turnover; distributors desire increased freezer effectiveness. Mini-tubs, sticks, and single bars accomplish both. Effectively, these formats facilitate trial and minimize consumer hold-up, particularly in high-end SKUs.

1. DOXO INGREDIENTS, INC. — Philippines

Doxo Ingredients enables small food establishments to expand by providing cheap ice-cream mixes and ready-to-use product sets. Key to their business is convenience, uniform taste, and value for money. Key to it all is that you basically acquire all of these in one package like powders, combinations, and even company starter packs. They also have milk tea and flavored syrups, which makes inter-category procurement simpler.

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2. PURE ICE CREAM CO. LLC (Kwality) — United Arab Emirates

Kwality has been manufacturing ice cream and dairy products in the UAE since 1977. They provide high-end tubs, single-serve sticks, and local flavor alternatives. In some way, they combine heritage with adaptive innovation, allowing distributors to access traditional and high-end markets. They also make paneer and frozen vegetables, so sourcing is wider per shipment.

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3. TORRE SA (Cooperlat Torre) — Greece

Torre SA boasts 40+ years of experience with dairy and ice cream. They make individual and family pack ice cream formats, creams, and frozen desserts. Their key strength is reliability with steady taste, stable exports, and robust trade readiness. For purchasing managers who need European-made premium ice cream formats, Torre is a good fit.

👉 Contact Supplier

The ice cream category is not slowing down. Rather, it's becoming smarter and more creative. Premium and healthier formats are shifting from "interesting niche" to trusted, repeatable business. Payers and distributors who act fast, by selecting plant-based products, premium inclusions, and robust cold-chain partners will reap the rewards of higher margins and quicker rotation. Essentially, opportunity is in your face. The market is expanding. People are testing. Retailers need to have something fresh on the shelf. When you find export-ready suppliers and concentrate on formats of actual value, you don't merely go with the trend, you are ahead of it.