Ice cream sales to set summer afire

Double-digit growth in China likely to continue despite epidemic impact on other sectors

Of all things, it's the sweet, solid ice cream that is expected to keep sales hot in the upcoming summer even as other food market segments reel under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ice cream business has already reaped double-digit growth in China so far this year. And signs are, the uptrend is likely to sustain, experts said.

Despite freezing winter temperatures, at-home spends on ice cream enjoyed an 18-percent year-on-year growth during the Jan 25-Feb 7 period. The figure jumped to 37 percent in the next fortnight, when COVID-19 and quarantines peaked, a report of Kantar Worldpanel China showed.