Price of popular ice-creams and lollies have soared by more than 30 per cent over the past two years, states a recent report, highlighting how own-label options are cheaper and sometime even tastier.
According to consumer group Which?, the biggest price increase spotted was on a six-pack of Cornetto strawberry ice-cream cones, which rose from £2.57 to £3.55 – a 38 per cent increase – between 2022 and 2024.
The pack costs £1.56 more – 26p a cone – than similar own-label items from Asda and Lidl that a Which? blind taste test found to be more satisfying and tasty. A four-pack of similar cones from Morrisons, which scored the same in the taste test as the Asda and Lidl versions, was priced at £1.50 – 21p a cone cheaper than the Cornetto.
A six-pack of Cornetto Classico cones increased in price by a similar amount to its strawberry equivalent – 35 per cent, from £2.57 to £3.48 – during the same time period.
According to the Office for National Statistics, average factory gate price of ice-cream has risen by 27 per cent in the past two years due to rising costs for producers in aspects of energy, labour, transport and ingredients including milk, cocoa and sugar.
A six-pack of Fab strawberry fruity lollies, made by Nestlé, increased in price by 23 per cent to £2.43, while the price of a four-pack of its Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles lollies was up 22 per cent to £2.43.
Ele Clark, the Which? retail editor, said, “Few of us can resist an ice-cream on a hot summer’s day, but the price hikes our research has revealed could leave ice-cream lovers feeling cold.
“Thankfully, Which?’s tests have unearthed some own-brand supermarket alternatives that taste better and cost less than their big-brand rivals.”
The Guardian quoted a spokesperson for Unilever, which makes Cornetto, Feast, Magnum and Solero, as saying, “We are committed to using the highest-quality ingredients for our ice-cream products and regularly review our ranges to ensure we continue to offer choice, superior quality and value to our shoppers by offering a range of product sizes to suit different shopper preferences, needs and budgets.
“The retail price of our products is always at the sole discretion of the retailer and we, like all manufacturers, only provide a recommended retail price.”
