Ice cream remains an incredibly popular purchase for Northern Ireland consumers, indeed 91.4% of households here purchased ice cream up to week ending 18^th February 2024 (Kantar), only marginally down on 93% in 2022.

Widely considered a tasty treat, ice cream has only grown in popularity as it becomes increasingly used in desserts. First invented in China almost 4000 years ago, vanilla remains the most popular flavour, although with hundreds of flavours now available, there really is something for everyone.

Such is the demand for top-quality, delicious local ice cream (on average ice cream has been bought 15.5 times across 2024, Kantar), that it has become a key industry in the province with several producers making their mark.

Big Night In occasions are as important as ever, providing retailers an opportunity to drive their sales at a time when consumers are still feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, so treats at home are a key driver.

Research conducted by Haagen-Dazs revealed that one in three shoppers were hosting a big night in occasion on a weekly basis, and 60% of consumers were planning to choose ice cream for a movie night at home.

One of the top five most impulsive categories, luxury ice cream can provide great sales in-store, so visibility is key for freezers, maximising space with year-round growth drivers.

With exciting NPD in ice cream, retailers and consumers alike can be guaranteed a cool few months ahead.

CHECK OUT THE FULL ICE CREAM FEATURE IN THE FEBRUARY-MARCH ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

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IFCF is partnering with CALM to raise awareness of the suicide prevention charity and encourage life-saving conversations on CALM’s helpline, at tills and around the dinner tables, changing the landscape forever and helping to remove the stigma of suicide across the UK.

Their broader goal is to help create five million life-saving conversations, one for every customer that walks through store doors each week, by starting the biggest conversation ever about suicide. Money raised will help with CALM’s vital helpline service.

Currently in the UK, data shows 1 in 5 will have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime, 125 people are lost every week to suicide and sadly, someone dies by suicide every 90 minutes on average in the UK.

During the partnership, Iceland and Food Warehouse colleagues, charity champions, and store managers nationwide will take on several fundraising challenges in a bid to raise £300,000 for CALM. When visiting your local Iceland store or Food Warehouse, look out for their Charity Weeks that will be taking place between Thursday 2^nd May and Saturday 1^st June. The money raised during store charity weeks will go towards CALM’s life-saving work/helpline to help ensure more people than ever are encouraged to stay.

In their first-of-its-kind partnership they want to help smash the stigma by educating and empowering people to start life-saving conversations about suicide and mental health through in-store messaging and prompts.

‘This incredible campaign will enable us to raise awareness to our customers and colleagues about mental health and help to end the stigma around it’

Simon Gunning, CALM CEO said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation on a groundbreaking partnership to break the silence around suicide and bring hope and life-saving conversations to high streets and Iceland stores across the UK.

“It’s been a tough few years, and for many, it can feel like things aren’t going to get much better any time soon. This partnership with Iceland will raise awareness of CALM’s life-saving message and services with millions of people, providing support to anyone struggling and potentially saving lives.

“CALM is a lifeline for so many people right now, and with the support of Iceland, we can continue to reach more people than ever in our fight against suicide.’’

Tarsem Dhaliwal, Group Chief Executive of Iceland Foods and Trustee of Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation added: “Iceland is at the heart of hundreds of communities, with our stores welcoming five million customers every week.

“This incredible campaign will enable us to raise awareness to our customers and colleagues about mental health and help to end the stigma around it by empowering them to have lifesaving conversations.

“Mental health is one of the biggest growing concerns in the UK, with 125 people per week losing their lives to suicide and bringing attention to it is key in stopping these preventable deaths.”

More information about CALM and its life-saving work can be found via the CALM website.

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Describing the termination of contracts as part of the “strategic decision” to focus on the digital side of the business, CEO Paul Kali said they were continuing to seek investment opportunities.

fwip supplies over 2000 convenience stores across the UK, to symbol groups and independent stores, including several in Northern Ireland, providing its own branded machines and flavours.

The job losses will affect roles providing sales and field support to independent retailers.

In a statement to NR, Mr Kali described the move as “unfortunate news”.

“We have made the decision to release this statement on account of some misinformation, which has been circulating in recent days,” said Mr Kali.

“We confirm that fwip is and will continue to be fully operational as we gear up for another busy and exciting summer season. One that sees forecasted growth of almost 100% year-on-year.

‘fwip’s intention to honour commitments has not changed or wavered’

“We had to make the difficult decision to terminate 13 employees in the UK. We have made a strategic decision to steer our focus away from field sales and focus on becoming a digital player with a new e-commerce site (store.fwip.com), a telesales team and by using our network of wholesaler partners to continue to implement fwip throughout the UK.

“This is the model already active in fwip Germany, which saw growth of over 100% last year alone.

“Our telesales team contributes significantly towards our global expansion – with multi-lingual capabilities and a reach that an ‘on-the-ground’ field sales team simply cannot match. This unfortunate news has been more difficult to accept by some than others.

“As a result, we have launched our brand-new e-commerce site and are investing resources into a fully operational telesales team available not five, but six days a week.

“fwip’s intention to honour commitments has not changed or wavered since our first Portobello store was launched in 2010 and will continue to do so. Like all growing businesses, we continue to seek investment opportunities to fuel our growth across the UK, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.”

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The brand is strengthening its ice cream offering with the launch of Fruit Hoops, a new ice lolly, made with real fruit juice and an extension to its premium Rapture range with Rapture ice cream tubs – replicating the most popular Rapture stick flavours, Honeycomb and Sea Salted Caramel in 460ml tubs format, with substantial inclusions and toppings.

Fully HFSS compliant, Fruit Hoops are available in both impulse-buy single lollies and multipack formats. Aimed at a family market, Fruit Hoops are made with real fruit juice and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This new line builds on Dale Farm’s dominant position in ice cream, where together with partner brands, it holds 65% share of the Northern Ireland impulse market*.

In response to growing demand for luxury at-home desserts, as more people switch from eating out to eating in, Dale Farm has also extended its decadent Rapture range with the introduction of ice cream tubs, perfect for an indulgent treat. The 460ml tubs are available in two flavours – Honeycomb and Sea Salted Caramel – both of which were recognised at the Ice Cream Alliance awards with a diploma and special diploma of merit.

Claire Hale, Dale Farm, said: “Dale Farm is dedicated to working with retailers across Northern Ireland to deliver the range, quality and value to maximise ice cream category performance. We are excited to bring these four new products to the market and further enhance our ice cream portfolio.

“Fruit Hoops are the ultimate refreshing treat, available for on-the-go impulse lolly lovers and as a multipack for family freezers. Fruit Hoops have been developed as a fun, novelty, value-for-money offering, made with real fruit juice and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Therefore, a perfect guilt free treat, for little & large hands alike.

“We are also delighted to launch our first ice cream tubs into our luxury, premium Rapture range. Rapture ice cream tubs have been developed in response to global ice cream trends for indulgent at-home desserts. They are perfect for those seeking affordable comfort as people reduce spend on eating out, opting for eating in and at-home treats.”

Claire concluded: “This Spring will see us launch impactful, targeted, fully integrated marketing campaigns to support our new product launches, building upon the success of our ‘Favourites’ campaign, which was recognised as ‘Best Marketing Campaign’ at the 2023 Women in Business Awards.”

Fruit Hoops and Rapture ice cream tubs are now available in participating retailers across Northern Ireland.

*Source: NielsenIQ Scantrack Northern Ireland Ice Cream, Unit sales, MAT 52 weeks ending 10/09/22

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As part of Nisa’s overarching Fill Your Basket For Less campaign, the deals focus on value to ensure Nisa stores continue to provide consumers with a strong and varied offer that delivers on price without compromising on quality.

Available in stores now until October 11, promotions include the latest Big Deal, which offers a great alternative to a curry night takeaway for two at a fraction of the price and provides savings of up to £10.89 on the RRP.

Shoppers can choose any two mains (Co-op Chicken Tikka 350g, Co-op Chicken Korma 350g or Co-op Butternut Squash Makhani 350g), two sides (Co-op Plain Naan Bread 2pk or Co-op Pilau Rice 250g) and a 4x330ml pack of Cobra beer or 4x250ml Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero, all for just £8.

And for mid-week meal inspiration, consumers can pick up all the ingredients for a fuss free cottage pie for just £5, including Co-op Carrots 500g, Co-op Onions 3 Pack, Co-op Maris Piper Potatoes 1.5kg and Co-op British Beef Mince 500g.

The latest freezer-filler deal also offers great value meals for the whole household, comprising Birds Eye family favourites 4 Chicken Burgers 200g, 2 Crispy Chicken 170g, Mixed Vegetables 340g and Alphabites 456g, alongside Walls Carte D’or Vanilla ice cream 900ml – all for a budget-friendly £6 and saving shoppers £6.23 off the RRP.

Laura Gomersal, head of customer and communications at Nisa, said: “We know shoppers are increasingly seeking better value for money right now and will be particularly cost-conscious as we head into the colder months with household budgets squeezed.

“Through these promotions and our wider Fill Your Basket For Less campaign we aim to demonstrate to shoppers that there’s no need to visit larger supermarkets to make their money go further, when everyday great value offers are available in local Nisa stores on their doorstep.”

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