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Prices for popular ice creams have risen by as much as 38% in the past two years, a consumer group has found.
The biggest price increase Which? discovered was on a six-pack of Cornetto strawberry ice cream cones, which rose from £2.57 to £3.55 – a 38% increase between 2022 and 2024 – while a six-pack of Cornetto Classico cones rose 35% from £2.57 to £3.48.
A three-pack of Solero Exotic ice cream lollies also saw a 35% price increase from £2.03 to £2.75, a four-pack of Feast chocolate ice creams rose 28% from £2.42 to £3.11, and a six-pack of Fab strawberry fruit lollies rose 23% from £1.97 to £2.43.
Shoppers buying Rowntree's products have seen the price of a pack of four Fruit Pastilles sweets rise by £2 to £2.43, and the price of a pack of four of the brand's watermelon sweets rise by £2.03 to £2.47, or 21%.
However, a three-pack of Magnum's multi-million-pound golden caramel magnum has dropped in price from £3.72 to £3.63, or 2%.
Which? compared the costs of ice cream in the UK's biggest supermarkets in the two months to 8 July 2024 with the same period two years earlier.
All prices are averages from major supermarkets where they were available during the two-month period of each year and include regular discounts but not multi-buy or loyalty prices.
Unilever owns the Cornetto, Feast, Solero and Magnum brands, while Nestlé owns the Rowntree's and Fab brands.
Rising prices for raw materials such as milk and sugar, combined with high energy and transport costs, have contributed to the price increase.
Overall food price inflation currently stands at 1.6%, according to analysts Kantar.
A blind taste test conducted by consumers for Which? to see how supermarket brands fared against Cornetto and Solero found that Aldi's Gianni's Tropico Exotic Fruit Lollipops (£1.35 for three) scored 76%, which was higher overall compared to Solero.
However, Solero scored relatively well overall, at 70%, but the panel found the aroma less appealing compared to other supermarket ice creams.
In the strawberry ice cream cone tests, Asda, Lidl and Morrisons tied with a top score of 77%.
Asda's strawberry ice cream cones cost £1.99 for six, Lidl's Bon Gelati ice cream cones also cost £1.99 for six and Morrisons' strawberry ice cream cones cost £1.50 for four and were the most “satisfying and tasty”, according to the test.
Ele Clark, Retail Editor at Which?, said: “Few of us can resist an ice cream on a hot summer’s day, but the price rises our research has revealed could leave ice cream lovers cold.
“Thankfully, Which?’s tests have uncovered some own-brand alternatives in supermarkets that taste better and cost less than their big-brand rivals.”
Unilever said: “We are committed to using the highest quality ingredients for our ice cream products and regularly review our range to ensure we continue to offer choice, superior quality and value to our shoppers by offering a variety of product sizes to suit different shoppers’ 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 offer a recommended retail price.”
