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Ice Cream Production in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: June 2025 WZ C10.52DE

Revenue

€1.3bn

2025

€1.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

4,428

Businesses

15

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Ice Cream Production in Germany industry analysis

The ice cream business is subject to strong seasonal influences and is largely dependent on the weather in any given year. General consumer trends such as increased health awareness also influence industry sales. For example, per capita consumption of milk and dairy products has fallen in recent years, which has had a negative impact on the industry. In addition, highly volatile raw material prices had a negative impact on the planning security and earnings situation of industry players. Major fluctuations were observed primarily for key ingredients such as milk, sugar and vanilla. Between 2020 and 2025, industry turnover increased by an average of 1.4% per year.The rise in net monthly household income and the expected increase in sales at supermarkets and discounters should have a positive impact on industry sales for ice cream manufacturers. In 2025, industry turnover is expected to grow by 5.4% to 1.3 billion euros. The expected increase in the producer price for milk is likely to keep material costs at a high level, which will have a negative impact on the earnings situation of industry players. The industry also benefits from the fact that it exports its products primarily to neighbouring EU countries and the export volume significantly exceeds the import volume. As the largest ice cream producer in Europe, Germany is known for its wide range of products and high quality, which ensures strong and continuously growing international demand, even outside the peak season. < />In the period from 2025 to 2030, industry turnover is expected to increase by an average of 2.9% per year, meaning that it will probably reach 1.5 billion euros in 2030. The development of the industry will continue to depend to a large extent on the weather, which is difficult to forecast. However, the average annual temperature is expected to continue to rise. Companies are likely to continue to endeavour to adapt their products to consumer preferences and therefore constantly develop their product ranges. The market power of the major food retailers is likely to maintain pressure on industry players and lead to an expansion of private label offerings.

Trends and Insights

  • The increased demand for organic products is benefiting ice cream manufacturers. Due to the high willingness to pay for high-quality products, it is easier to pass on raw material costs to consumers. Organic milk is also subject to fewer price fluctuations.
  • The pandemic led to increased demand for industry products in the food retail sector. In particular, sales of household packs and multipacks increased as consumers consumed more ice cream at home. However, a trend reversal can currently be observed.
  • The centre region offers a particularly large sales market due to its large population. In addition, ice cream manufacturers benefit from the high production capacities of local milk producers.
  • Due to the high level of market concentration, competition within the sector can only have a limited regulatory effect. This can be reflected in excessively high prices and lower product quality. However, the introduction of private labels has recently had a pro-competitive effect.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €1.3bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Sales of multipacks increased in 2023 due to economic uncertainties

  • In 2023, the sales volume of multipacks in the ice cream manufacturing industry exceeded that of traditional household packs for the first time. Multipacks consist of several smaller units packed together, while household packs are usually larger individual containers. This change is a reaction to economic uncertainties, particularly high inflation, which has influenced consumer behaviour. Buyers often find multipacks more economical as they can offer a better price per unit compared to buying individually.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ice Cream Production in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Sales trends in ice cream production are strongly influenced by weather fluctuations

  • Hot summers boost sales of ice cream, while cool or rainy years lead to a slump in sales. A recent study by climate researchers from Germany and Switzerland, published in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment in 2022, predicts that if the trend continues, 92% of countries will experience a heat year every other year by 2030.

Biggest companies in the Ice Cream Production in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025
Unilever Deutschland GmbH
465.0
Froneri Ltd.
456.0
Eisbär Eis GmbH
164.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ice Cream Production in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Multipacks, Household packs and Impulse ice cream. Multipacks is the largest segment of the Ice Cream Production in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The crises of recent years have boosted demand for household packaging

  • Household packs include cups and tins of ice cream with a capacity of 300 millilitres or more, which consumers store and portion in their own freezer.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector includes the industrial production of ice cream and sorbets in the form of stick ice cream, waffle creations, sandwich ice cream or cup ice cream. In contrast, the production of ice cream for direct sale to the end consumer, as practised by ice cream parlours or cafés, is not considered an industry activity.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany include Household packs, Multipacks, Impulse ice cream and Bulk consumer range.

Companies

Companies covered in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany include Unilever Deutschland GmbH, Froneri Ltd. and Eisbär Eis GmbH.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany include frozen yogurt, lactose intolerance, gluten and impulseis.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 10.52 - Ice Cream Production in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The increased demand for organic products is benefiting ice cream manufacturers. Due to the high willingness to pay for high-quality products, it is easier to pass on raw mat...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The pandemic led to increased demand for industry products in the food retail sector. In particular, sales of household packs and multipacks increased as consumers consumed m...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The centre region offers a particularly large sales market due to its large population. In addition, ice cream manufacturers benefit from the high production capacities of lo...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Due to the high level of market concentration, competition within the sector can only have a limited regulatory effect. This can be reflected in excessively high prices and l...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Unilever is responding to the increased demand for more sustainable and healthier products. To this end, the company is constantly launching new vegan or calorie-reduced prod...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Unilever Deutschland GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Froneri Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Eisbär Eis GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Unilever Deutschland GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Froneri Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Eisbär Eis GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The decline in milk consumption over the past few years is having a negative impact on the industry. In response, ice cream manufacturers are increasingly offering lactose-fr...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Significant price increases for milk and sugar have caused the cost of materials to rise. The increase in the price of vanilla has also led to additional costs for ice cream ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany is €1.3bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany in 2025?

There are 15 businesses in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany?

The Ice Cream Production industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany?

The Ice Cream Production industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany are Unilever Deutschland GmbH, Froneri Ltd. and Eisbär Eis GmbH

What does the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany include?

Household packs and Multipacks are part of the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany is Unilever Deutschland GmbH.

How competitive is the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Ice Cream Production industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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