Ice cream prices are exploding: customers outraged by additional fees!

Ice cream prices are exploding: customers outraged by additional fees!

The 2025 ice cream season has begun in Germany with the first periods of heat and many people are flocking to the ice cream parlors to enjoy the cool treat. But as a thriller from an ice cream parlor in Hesse shows, the prices for a scoop of ice cream have skyrocketed. A scoop currently costs 1.50 euros, but additional fees for extras such as an additional spoon or a waffle are causing discussions among ice cream lovers. The topic is making the rounds on social media and opinions about it are divided: some find the regulation understandable and environmentally friendly, while others speak of “violent customer mischief”. [Merkur].

According to Tagesschau, the price for a scoop of ice cream this year is higher than ever before, at an average of 1.81 euros. That's an increase of about 43.5 percent from 2018 to 2024, while general inflation is only about 22 percent over the same period. The increase is primarily due to the increased costs for energy, personnel and raw materials such as milk powder, cocoa and sugar. Ice cream parlors in particular, which are already energy-intensive businesses, have to contend with higher operating costs.

Ice inflation and fewer and fewer buyers

The price increase has now given rise to the term “ice inflation”. The fact is that many consumers – despite consuming an average of eight liters of ice cream per year – have been buying less in recent years. Families are treating themselves to fewer scoops in ice cream parlors. For example, one less scoop is often ordered or the frequency of visits is reduced from three to twice a week. The average price for a scoop of ice cream in 2024 was 1.72 euros, 6.2 percent higher than the year before.

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A look at the ice cream parlors in big cities like Munich, Hamburg or Frankfurt shows that the prices there are even higher. However, compared to neighboring countries, German prices are a real bargain - while in this country a scoop of ice cream can be had for 1.50 to 1.81 euros, most neighboring countries cost between 3.50 and 4 euros per scoop.

So, as ice cream shop operators look to experiment with pricing and offerings, it remains to be seen how customers will react to these changes. The fact is that the desire for ice cream in Germany remains unbroken - despite increased prices. There are still opportunities for good business, even if times have become more challenging.

Back to the hot topic of pricing: Ice cream parlor operators have to be careful how they address their customers and what new ideas they can develop to continue to make ice cream enjoyment attractive.