Nearly a third of out-of-home ice-cream sales are in winter

More than 30% of out of home ice-cream sales take place during the winter months, with 70% of these being impulse purchases, according to Lakeland Dairies brand Comelle.

The soft serve specialist reported that ice-cream-based desserts in the colder months account for 46% of sales, up from 33% in the summer.

With a rise in cold weather indulgence, Comelle recommended how operators can capitalise on ‘one of the category’s biggest untapped opportunities’ within the Autumn/Winter edition of its Soft Serve Forecast 2026.

Advice included creating soft serve and shakes inspired by seasonal cocktails and café favourites; tapping into festive ‘noel-stalgia’; using dramatic colours and finishes; introducing toppings like curds, jams and molasses to add texture, flavour and premium appeal; and experimenting with sweet meets savoury.

Lakeland Dairies’ head of food, Paul Jennings said: “One of the biggest misconceptions about soft serve and shakes is that they’re purely a summer category. The data tells a very different story. Consumers are increasingly looking for affordable indulgence throughout the year, and we’re seeing huge opportunities for operators who adapt their dessert offer to reflect changing seasonal behaviours.

“From nostalgic festive flavours and café-inspired drinks through to savoury twists and immersive dessert experiences, there are countless opportunities to surprise customers, differentiate menus, and drive profitability during the colder months.”

Previous findings from the Soft Serve Forecast revealed that innovative flavours and toppings can increase soft serve selling prices by up to 150% in parlours and casual dining venues, and up to 280% in restaurants, without adding complexity to kitchen operations.