Revenue from branded ice cream in Germany 2008-2023

Branded ice cream in Germany generated around 2.94 billion euros in revenue in 2023. This was an increase compared to the year before. Figures had been stable until a noticeable increase in 2018, then dropped once again, though all were thus far still higher than in earlier years. 

Eating ice cream in Germany

Ice cream brands sold in the country include such well-known names as Langnese and Mövenpick. Consumers look for ice cream both in their local supermarket, maybe buying a larger container to store in the freezer long-term, or grabbing an individually packaged, smaller portion for enjoying on the go. Ice cream scoops from ice cream cafes are also enthusiastically enjoyed outside, both in a cone and a cup, whether seated in a cafe, on a park bench or while walking in if not sunnier, than warmer weather. Some ice cream cafes close during the winter months due to product demand, though supermarkets and other food shops, of course, provide freezer-stored packaged ice cream all year round. Also in 2023, around 543.6 million liters of branded ice cream were sold in Germany, which was a decrease on the previous year.

Ice cream and substitutes

Ice cream consumption has changed in recent years, with consumers increasingly confronted with topics of sustainable production and manufacturing transparency, therefore perhaps questioning the purchase of packaged ice cream sold in stores more closely. Dairy alternatives have also made their way to the ice cream market, with 17 percent of flexitarians in Europe enjoying plant-based versions of the dessert 1-3 times a week in 2023