Tate & Lyle’s latest report highlights the growing opportunity for ice cream brands to develop healthier options specifically for children. The report, titled “Cool for Kids: The Inside Scoop on Ice Cream,” explores the science behind reduced sugar and fat formulations and underscores the market potential for such products.
The ingredients provider emphasizes that understanding parents’ preferences is key to tapping into the children’s ice cream market. According to the report, over 40% of parents in the UK and Germany prioritize nutrition and ingredient lists when selecting ice cream for their children (Tate & Lyle, December 2023). With nearly 40% of take-home ice cream purchases now made by families with children (Global Data), there is a clear demand for healthier options that cater to these priorities.
The report reveals that half of children in the UK and Germany consume ice cream at least once a day or twice a week (Tate & Lyle, December 2023). This frequent consumption, coupled with increasing regulatory pressure, such as mandatory nutritional labeling schemes and non-HFSS (high in fat, salt, and sugar) guidelines, underscores the need for brands to reformulate their products to be healthier.
Delphine Forejt, Dairy Category Development Manager at Tate & Lyle, stresses that improving children’s eating habits is crucial. “We have the evidence to support healthier ice cream options for children, which is why we are focusing our innovation efforts in Europe on this segment,” Forejt said. She also noted that many parents rely on brands to ensure that children’s ice cream options are nutritious.
Tate & Lyle has invested significantly in developing science-based solutions to create ice cream that reduces sugar and calories while maintaining the taste and texture that children love. Forejt acknowledges the technical challenges involved but asserts that the company is a leader in making nutritionally balanced frozen desserts possible without sacrificing quality.
The report underscores that addressing public health concerns and meeting consumer demands for healthier options requires collaboration across the industry, including with ice cream formulators, brand owners, foodservice providers, and retailers. Tate & Lyle’s findings suggest that by embracing these innovations, brands can not only cater to evolving consumer preferences but also contribute to category growth and public health improvement.
