Reasons why these top 10 ice cream and lolly brands are so popular

Ice cream isn’t just for summer – it’s enjoyed all year round by us Brits. But there is more to ice cream than the delicious flavour (which is still very important). How a brand markets itself to stand out in the crowd is what makes it memorable.

From the giants of the ice cream world to the new and niche products, take a look at some refreshing marketing and how these ice cream brands are successfully reinventing the market.

1. NightFood ice cream

Quite possibly one of the most unique ice cream brands out there is Nightfood ice cream. Offering sleep-friendly and nutritional ice cream, the guilt-free brand tapped into a niche market targeting those with late night cravings. Encouraging healthier night time snacking, Nightfood ice cream comes in a variety of flavours, all inspired by the night time, such as Full Moon Vanilla, Cookies and Dreams, and Cherry Eclipse.

2. Jude’s

Paving the way for a better future is Jude’s ice cream. Becoming Britain’s first ever carbon neutral ice cream company, Jude’s is not only delicious but good for the planet too. In a bid to reduce its carbon footprint by 43%, Jude’s is set to transition to more plant based products, use renewable energy and more environmentally friendly packaging. With this new pledge, Jude’s are marketing their ice cream in a whole new light and we love it!

3. Oatly 

It’s no secret that Oatly is making its mark on the dairy alternative world, so having its very own ice cream range comes as no surprise at all. As vegan diets are becoming more popular, Oatly has taken this opportunity to branch out their milk brand into ice cream, offering a range of delicious ice creams with no compromise on flavour – if anything they taste even better than regular ice cream. As we look towards a future of plant-based diets, introducing alternative ice creams is one sure way to start.

4. Wall’s

Nothing screams ice cream like the classic Wall’s. For the grown ups, it’s a blast from the past as their latest marketing campaign had us talking. Becoming the modern ice cream van, Wall’s encouraged passers-by to buy an ice cream through out-of-house marketing featuring talking ice creams. From taxis and buses to taking over their social media, this campaign not only sparked nostalgia, but it helped drive interest to the variety of loveable ice creams on offer.

5. Ben and Jerry’s

Ben and Jerry’s has long been a favourite ice cream brand across the world, and when everything came to a halt during lockdown, the popular ice cream brand kept its cool and introduced ‘The Ice Cream Shop’. Offering exclusive on-demand delivery of ice cream favourites, Unilever excelled on social media and went on to win ‘Best Use of Social Media Advertising’ at The Drum Awards. This out-of-the-box thinking gave customers the perfect pick me up during a time of hardship and uncertainty, proving that Ben and Jerry’s are still one of the best ice cream brands out there today. Who doesn’t love an ice cream delivery?

6. Alandas Gelato

If there’s one thing we know about ice cream, it’s that it tastes better when family is at the heart of it. Introducing Alandas Gelato, a Scottish Ice Cream Champion focused on creating the finest gelato and the most incredible flavours. With recipes, flavours and the production process all carried by the family, Alandas creates a real connection with their customers. Of course, the strong family values are what makes Alandas unique, but the gelato definitely has an influence too!

7. Studio 13

Centred in the heart of Machynlleth, Wales, Studio 13 crafts indulgent ice cream and desserts in one unique setting. Bringing something fresh and quirky to the streets of Machynlleth, we helped Studio 13 create a standout, vibrant shop to attract tourists and build on their local relationships within the community. Through bold, sugar-like colours of pink, yellow and turquoise, and cheeky messaging such as ‘wanna spoon?’ this is a refreshing brand we’re currently loving.

8. Little Moons

An ice cream concept that is truly out of this world is Little Moons. Taking a new spin on ice cream, the traditional mochi ice cream balls come in a variety of flavours and consist of two parts; a chewy dough and a gelato centre. After rising to fame on TikTok during lockdown, Little Moons created a social community and used this opportunity to promote its sustainable values and use of natural ingredients. From 96% recyclable packaging to renewable energy sources at the factory, Little Moons are one to watch.

9. Baskin Robbins

Baskin Robbins is known for its wonderfully delicious variety of flavours, and when they released a new character-themed ice cream range called ‘Creature Creations’, it generated a whole new level of engagement. Reaching out to new audiences in a Snapchat campaign titled ‘Unleash Your Inner Creature’, the quirky campaign brought the ice cream to life with fun Snapchat filters for each creature – from the unicorn and mermaid to the yeti and monster lenses.

10. Haagen Daaz

Haagan Daaz has always been a luxurious and irresistible ice cream brand, but one campaign that sticks with us is the fashionable campaign. Generally not two words you’d see together, but Haagan Daaz pulled off a brilliant fashion campaign to promote its new flavours. The popular ice cream brand teamed up with German online fashion brand, ABOUT YOU, to release a fashion collection incorporating the ice cream flavours into the photoshoot.

If this blog has got your mouth-watering, why not get in touch with us for some advice on how to market your own brand of food products?  We would love to hear from you.

Image sources: 1) www.nightfood.com 2) www.judes.com 3) www.oatly.com 4) www.wallsicecream.com, 5) www.benjerry.com 8) www.littlemoons.com 9) www.baskinrobbinsmea.com 10) www.agencyspace.co.uk