Vanilla still most popular US ice cream flavor, says industry survey

Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor among Americans, a survey by the International Ice Cream Association (IICA) has found.

IICA member companies, which manufacture and distribute around 85% of the ice cream and frozen dessert products consumed in the US, voted vanilla their favorite ice cream flavor for the second year running.

Chocolate and Pecan were voted the second and third favorite respectively, while Neapolitan and Rocky Road tied in fourth place.

“From the rich, creaminess of a scoop of vanilla-bean premium ice cream to the convenience of a perfectly portion-controlled ice cream confection, our member companies are making a wide-range of flavors and product types that allow consumers to choose the treat that appeals to them,” said International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) vice president of communications, Peggy Armstrong.

Through its survey, the IICA also found that premium ice cream, which has a higher fat content than regular ice cream, is the most popular variety with consumers.

Of those that participated in the survey, around 50% also said they had seen increased demand for frozen yogurt.