Froneri ice cream sales rise after warm start to 2017
Froneri UK’s Nestlé ice cream sales have increased more than 32% in 2017, compared with the same period last year. Its franchised sales of Cadbury ice creams were up by more than 33%, while Kelly’s of Cornwall sales increased by more than 17%.
The manufacturer – formerly trading as R&R Ice Cream – said sales had benefited from the warmer start to the year.
‘Peak selling season’
Froneri UK head of marketing Charlotte Hambling said: “Sales remained buoyant throughout autumn and winter last year, and so we started the 2017 peak selling season in a strong position. Revenues in the first half of this year were 22% up on 2016 with volumes also showing a 15% increase.
“Lollies, in particular, are showing strong growth, due in part to the warmer weather in the spring and early summer, and also by the fact they are seen as an enjoyable and permissible treat for the family.”
Froneri saw a record breaking start to May this year, with more than 6,000 pallets of ice creams being shipped in the first two weeks of the month alone, said Hambling.
Its ‘Fab’ ice cream lollies reported a near 50% rise in sales this year, after launching its 50th birthday limited edition lolly. The lolly was “the most successful lolly launch of the year”, generating £1.2M in sales.
Developing new products
The ice cream firm was already working on developing new products for next year, it said. It will now begin formulating recipes and conducting taste tests, before heading to production trials.
Froneri UK’s Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, factory has 22 production lines, and makes about 250l of ice cream a year.
Meanwhile, Froneri UK scooped a top prize at last year’s Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs). The Dairy and frozen manufacturing company of the year won the award after its sales increased £44M in 12 months. This year’s manufacturing Oscars will take place on Wednesday November 1 at the Hilton, Park Lane, London.
