Italians face steeper ice cream costs this summer, with retail prices surging nearly 30% over four years despite a 4% increase in consumption compared to 2023. The average price for packaged ice cream in Italy now stands at €5.87 per kilogram, a significant jump from the €4.54/kg average recorded in 2021.
Data from the Consumer Research and Training Centre (Crc), analysing figures from the Mimit observatory, reveals stark regional variations. Florence currently has the highest average price at €8.05/kg, followed by Forlì (€7.68/kg), Bolzano (€7.19/kg), Ravenna (€7.18/kg), and Biella (€7.14/kg). Conversely, Macerata offers the most affordable ice cream at €4.55/kg, with Treviso (€4.56/kg) and Cuneo (€4.64/kg) close behind.
Padua experienced the most dramatic price hikes, with costs soaring 54.3% since 2021. Modena saw a 50.4% increase and Livorno a 43.5% rise. Only six provinces recorded increases below 20%, with Ancona (+6.4%) and Cremona (+9.3%) seeing the smallest rises.
Furio Truzzi, President of the Crc Scientific Committee, stated, “After steep price escalations driven by the energy crisis and the Ukraine war, ice cream pricing has stabilized. However, inflationary pressure persists due to shortages of key raw materials, notably cocoa.” Truzzi highlighted the sector’s scale: Italy’s packaged ice cream market reached €1.9 billion, with per capita consumption around 2kg and 3.7 billion portions sold annually, alongside an additional €3 billion spent on artisanal ice cream.