Unseasonably chilly summer experienced this year.

In an unexpected turn of events, the demand for traditional summer favourites like water, kvass, and ice cream has seen a decline in early summer 2025. However, amidst this dip, the ice cream market has witnessed a peculiar trend – the growing popularity of fruit ice cream.

Despite a general decrease in ice cream sales, attributable to poor weather conditions, the demand for fruit ice cream has bucked the trend, showing a 7.2% year-over-year increase in the first half of 2025. This growth has made it the only category in the ice cream segment to show positive figures.

The median cost of an ice cream purchase, from August 1-25, stood at 117 rubles, marking a 15% year-over-year increase. Conversely, the average price of fruit ice cream was 670 rubles per kg from August 1-20, 2025, showing a 13% increase year-over-year. Interestingly, the higher prices haven't deterred consumers, suggesting a shift in preferences towards this healthier dessert option.

Analysts at Rosselkhozbank predict that per capita ice cream consumption in Russia will reach 4.4 kilograms by 2030. This forecast, however, is subject to the market's ability to adapt and cater to the growing demand for healthier options.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Retail Trade Companies Association (AKORT), Stanislav Bogdanov, suggests that consumers may perceive fruit ice as a healthier dessert due to its lower calorie content. He also notes a decrease in the variety of ice cream in retail, with a 7-10% reduction over the year.

The overall sales of ice cream decreased by 4.5% year-over-year in the first half of 2025. The decrease in demand, coupled with increased production costs, has negatively affected the business of ice cream manufacturers. The margin of sales has almost halved, to 4.34%, analysts note.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Belov, a representative from "Soyuzmoloko," remains optimistic. He concludes, "We see significant potential for demand growth." The company, however, does not rule out the possibility that the situation may develop positively in the future, with demand stabilizing.

The demand for healthy products has been consistently growing for several years, according to Stanislav Bogdanov. This trend, coupled with the growing interest in fruit ice cream due to its lower price, which is not dependent on dairy ingredients, presents an exciting opportunity for the ice cream industry.

In the first half of 2025, 332,300 tons of ice cream were produced in Russia, a 4.9% decrease compared to the previous year. The profitability of ice cream manufacturers was 13.75% in January-March 2025, compared to 17.7% in 2023.

Ice cream consumption in Russia currently stands at 3 kg per capita per year, significantly lower than in many countries with similar food habits and climate. As the industry navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how the market will adapt and cater to the growing demand for healthier options.