With unit sales of approximately 176 million, Ben & Jerry’s was the leading brand of ice cream in the United States in 2023. While Ben & Jerry’s was the leading brand, private labels sold a total of over 401 million units that year.

Ben & Jerry’s in the U.S.

Founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry, Ben & Jerry’s is an American company that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet. Ben & Jerry’s is one of the most popular brands of ice cream in the United States, as roughly a quarter of U.S. respondents reported purchasing Ben & Jerry’s ice cream within the last three months prior to a recent survey. The brand’s total U.S. ice cream sales amounted to over 951 million U.S. dollars in 2023.

In 2023, Ben & Jerry’s was the leading ice cream brand in the United States, based on sales of 951 million U.S. dollars. As impressive as the performance of Ben & Jerry’s is, private-label products made even more sales. Taken together, these products achieved a sales value of 1.4 billion U.S. dollars. Considering the total U.S. ice cream market generated a revenue of 19.1 billion U.S. dollars, this is still just a scoop full even if it’s the biggest. Ice cream brands in the U.S. Brands' unit sales somewhat mirror the sales values of the sector. Private-label once again leads Ben & Jerry’s. However, the distance between branded offers and private-label products is much larger. Private-label products sold 401 million units, over double Ben & Jerry’s 176 million units sold. Ben & Jerry’s is number one in popularity among consumers. Leading Breyer’s and Blue Bunny in second and third place, respectively. The U.S. ice cream market Ice cream is a part of the frozen dessert category and serves as an indulgent snack for those with a sweet tooth. Ice cream comes in a large variety of styles, ranging from regular ice cream to low-fat ice cream. There are fruity and creamy options available, or a combination of both. In recent years, lactose-free and sugar-reduced options have also become a mainstay of the industry. The retail price of ice cream products such as pre-pack, bulk, and regular ice cream has recently reached new heights. Prices have doubled compared to 1995 values. Still, consumers eat about 11.4 kilograms of ice cream annually.

The global ice cream market was worth 57 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 and is expected to grow to nearly 75 billion by 2024. This represents an over 30 percent increase in market size over the period. Unilever was the market leader in ice cream manufacturing worldwide.

Ice cream’s history

In the 12th century, Marco Polo returned to Italy from his travels to Asia with a recipe that was akin to the modern sherbet. Historians claim that this recipe developed into ice cream during the 16th century. “Cream ice” was known to be a favorite dessert of Charles I during the 17th century. A similar dessert was introduced to France by Catherine de Medici when she married Henry II. Ice cream was first made available to the public around 1660. In the United States, the earliest account of ice cream came from a letter in 1744, and the dessert was first advertised in the New York Gazette in 1777. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were also known to be avid fans of the rare and exotic dessert. In 1851, Jacob Fussell, a milk dealer from Baltimore, began manufacturing ice cream.

America’s favorite brands

In the United States, Breyer’s and Ben & Jerry’s had the highest sales of all ice cream brands. Both brands are owned by Unilever. A recent survey on consumers’ preferred ice cream brands backed up these sales figures, as nearly half of respondents stated that they regularly purchased Breyer’s ice cream.

The boozy ice cream market, while relatively niche, is experiencing robust growth driven by several key factors. The increasing popularity of adult-oriented desserts and innovative flavor profiles are primary drivers. Consumers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are seeking unique and indulgent experiences, leading to a surge in demand for alcoholic ice cream options. This trend is further fueled by the rising disposable incomes in many developed and emerging economies, allowing consumers to indulge in premium and artisanal food products. The market also benefits from strategic partnerships and collaborations between established ice cream brands and alcoholic beverage companies, resulting in creative product launches and increased market penetration. The market is segmented by product type (e.g., pints, bars, sundaes), alcohol type (e.g., vodka, whiskey, rum), and distribution channel (e.g., supermarkets, specialty stores, online). While the exact market size is unavailable, considering the growth of premium dessert categories and the CAGR of similar indulgent markets, a reasonable estimate for the 2025 market size could be placed between $250 million and $350 million USD, with a projected CAGR of 10-15% over the next decade. This growth is likely to be regionally diverse, with North America and Europe currently holding significant market share. However, the market also faces certain restraints. Regulatory hurdles related to alcohol content and labeling vary significantly across regions, impacting market expansion. Consumer concerns about alcohol consumption and health consciousness may also act as limiting factors. Seasonal demand is another consideration; boozy ice cream is likely to see higher sales during warmer months. Competition from other premium dessert options and the inherent perishability of ice cream also pose challenges to market players. To overcome these limitations, companies are likely innovating with healthier options, unique packaging, and targeted marketing campaigns emphasizing responsible consumption. The long-term outlook for the boozy ice cream market remains positive, given the ongoing trend of experiential consumption and the continued development of exciting new flavors and product formats.

Unilever’s brand investment worldwide increased to roughly 8.5 billion dollars in 2023. The company's spending on brand and marketing - including media, advertising production, promotional materials, and consumer engagement - grew from 7.8 billion in the previous year.

Unilever: among the world's largest ad spenders 

In 2021, Unilever was among the three largest advertisers worldwide. Regarding advertising spending, the consumer goods giant ranked only behind Procter & Gamble and Amazon that year. In the United States, Unilever made into the top 10 leading magazine advertisers in 2022, having spent nearly 90 million U.S. dollars to advertise its products in the medium.

Unilever's Dove raise awareness in ads  As of 2022, Dove's campaign "Reverse Selfie" was elected one of the most creative ad campaign worldwide. In its advertisements, Unilever's flagship brand challenged beauty standards spread on social media, which often damage girls' and women's self-esteem. In the same year, Dove got the first position as most advertised personal care brands in the United States, with ad spending of 286 million dollars.