Inflation is leading to pullbacks in spending and product trade-outs across the board in the grocery vertical, but one product segment appears to be largely unaffected: ice cream. Ice cream sales are up about 1% compared to the same period last year, with the Fourth of July in particular driving a spike in purchasing.
This isn’t super-surprising given the heat waves pummeling various areas of the country. More surprising perhaps is the top-selling flavor of the season: Plain old vanilla, a reliable classic, is topping the sales charts, followed by chocolate and Neapolitan.
For more trends defining ice cream purchasing behavior this summer, check out this infographic from 84.51°, the retail data science, insights and media arm of Kroger.
