TAKE HOME treats provide a year-round market and more ice cream is still sold for home consumption than as impulse buys, R&R Ice Cream says.
But it reckons not all c-stores take full advantage of ice cream business.
Head of UK market at R&R, Charlotte Hambling, said: “The Big Night In continues to prove a big opportunity to increase ice cream sales however research undertaken by R&R has found that not all convenience retailers are recognizing and reacting to this opportunity.
“R&R commissioned HIM Research found that only 2% of independent retailers identified the opportunity for big night in for ice cream.
“With a spring full of the return of the big TV shows and a summer full of sporting events, more people will be getting together to gather round the TV and tubs of ice cream work perfectly for the occasion.”
Hambling said the value of ice cream sales in c-stores is split 56% take home and 44% impulse.
She also stressed the importance of price-marked packs saying: “Some of R&R’s most popular lines in convenience are price-marked packs, particularly the Mondelez Daim, Flake and Oreo 480ml tubs at £3.
“The six pack of Vimto lollies with a £1 price mark is also one of the top sellers in convenience.”
The established heritage of existing brands can encourage consumers to try new ice cream products, she reckons.
Quoting Nielsen Scantrack research, she said: “We’re also finding some of the most popular products in ice cream include ingredients and flavours of popular brands – such as Oreo.
“The Oreo brand has also witnessed success and is now worth £11.5m in retail sales.
“The Oreo Sandwich is the number one ice cream sandwich and the Oreo Cone is third biggest performing product in its category based on rate of sale,” said Hambling.
