The Irish ice cream market is worth approximately €200 million and we consume an average of 10 litres per year each, although we still eat only half as much as the Americans.
Our ice cream report card suggests we "could do better" and that's why conglomerates are fighting over fridge space and spending millions on advertising campaigns, and why the market continues to attract knowing speculators.
Only recently, Silver Pail Dairies in Fermoy, which manufactures own-label ice cream for Thornton's, Darina Allen, Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Supervalu, launched Corrin Hill Ice Cream, while smaller concerns including Murphy's Ice Cream and Tipperary Organic Ice Cream have invested in other areas of the market.
Unilever (HB Ice Cream and Ben & Jerry's) dominates the market, with about 60 per cent of the business. In marketing jargon, it splits its business between impulse and take-home purchases, what you buy in the street or what you buy in the supermarket. Silver Pail Dairies has 15 per cent, Master Foods has 11 per cent, while down the line in single figures are Nestlé, Dale Farm and and finally, the artisan ice cream makers.
is the nation's favourite flavour. The biggest-selling brand is HB Originals. Next come Iceberger, Choc-Ice, Brunch, Magnum and Cornetto. HB Ice Cream makes nine of the top 10 selling ice creams; Maltesers from Master Foods is the exception.