2026 predictions
Matt Frost, Executive Director at Glacier, said: “2025 was a record year at Glacier and we are confident the outlook remains smooth for ice-cream. If this year has shown us one thing it’s that people still want their treats – they just want them smaller, snackier and better quality.
Rising input costs and shifting habits have pushed consumers away from jumbo portions towards indulgent minis. Dubai chocolate captured the moment perfectly: luxury you can enjoy in a single bite.
Looking ahead to 2026, four trends stand out.
- Premium minis go mainstream. The shift to smaller, higher-quality formats will keep building. There is plenty of noise about GLP-1 treatments reshaping desserts and snacks, but ice cream looks set to withstand the weight loss wave. It remains a smarter treat enjoyed in defined moments, both inside and outside the home. And in the US, where GLP-1 use is far more established, sales show no meaningful drop.
- Fruit takes centre stage. Tight nut supplies after a bumper year will push brands and consumers towards fruit-led products. Nostalgic water ices are back, with growing demand for authentic fruit flavours. The one to watch is Morello cherry. Expect it to dominate shelves next year much like pistachio did in 2025.
- Faster innovation through tech. AI is already improving efficiency across production lines, but the bigger prize is consumer insight. Smarter monitoring of online conversations is helping us, and our customers, spot emerging themes – such as the demand for high protein and fibre products – and launch the next frozen hit faster than ever before.
- Ice cream becomes a year-round indulgence. The sector’s resilience through recent volatility has proved that ice cream is no longer just for summer. As people look for small moments of pleasure in their food choices, our huge format and flavour range and affordable quality make our category well placed to benefit and to deliver sustained growth.
I’m confident we can deliver on these trends and make 2026 another positive year for the industry.”
