Vanilla has lost its crown as County Antrim’s favourite ice cream flavour after Honeycomb claimed the county’s top spot in the 2024 Morelli’s Ice Cream Report.
As the summer draws to a close, Morelli’s Ice Cream, Ireland’s oldest ice cream producer, has revealed 2024’s most popular buying trends of Antrim ice cream lovers.
Morelli’s Ice Cream’s flagship stores are based in Portrush and Portstewart, and the ice cream producers boast the biggest selection of stores in Northern Ireland with a further 31 locations in County Antrim including in Ballycastle and at Dairy Farm Shopping Centre in Belfast.
2024 sales data from Morelli’s Ice Cream shows:
• Honeycomb is the number one flavour in County Antrim closely followed by last year’s winner Double Cream Vanilla in second and Chocolate in third, seeing Mint & Chocolate Chip bumped off the top three
• Honeycomb is Northern Ireland’s favourite flavour, knocking Double Cream Vanilla into second place
• Chocolate and Rainbow sprinkles are Northern Ireland’s favourite toppings
• Devil’s Churn Ripple was the best-selling new flavour of 2024
• Portrush, Portstewart and Ballycastle see more ice cream sales than anywhere else in Northern Ireland
• The most popular day for an ice cream is still Sunday
• Honeycomb is also the most popular flavour in Derry-Londonderry and Armagh, while Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone prefer Double Cream Vanilla
Breaking tradition… ever so slightly
Last year saw Double Cream Vanilla victorious, but this year, Honeycomb took first prize. These two long-standing favourites have competed for the accolade of Northern Ireland’s favourite ice cream flavour for many years, with Chocolate sitting comfortably in third place.
In with the new
This year, new flavours were a big hit with sweet treat fanatics across Northern Ireland. Morelli’s launched several new flavours, including Coke Float and Lemon Cookies, but the most popular was Devil’s Churn Ripple.
The flavour is the result of a collaboration with Devil’s Churn and North Coast Smokehouse, boastingMorelli’s Double Cream Vanilla as a base with ripples of Devil’s Churn Campfire Salted Caramel Sauce.
Some 80s and 90s classic flavours made a resurgence this year, including Bubblegum, which makes a return to the top ten after Belgian Chocolate Chip disappeared off the bestseller list for 2024. Unicorn, the candyfloss flavour that made its debut in the top ten last year, retains its spot in 2024.
Location, location, location
This year, Honeycomb topped the charts in Antrim, Derry-Londonderry and Armagh. Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone, however, stayed loyal to last year’s Northern Irish favourite, Double Cream Vanilla.
In 2023, the only county that didn’t have chocolate in its top three flavours was Derry-Londonderry. This year, a variation of flavours have taken the third spot in the popularity charts, including Raspberry Ripple in Tyrone and Derry-Londonderry, and Mint & Chocolate Chip in Fermanagh.
Sunny sundaes
The Northern Irish ice cream diehards are united on one front: Sunday is the day for a poke. Sunday has seen the highest percentage of sales for Morelli’s Ice Cream for over 50 years in a row, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change. Sales also increased significantly during the NI International Airshow, Lammas Fair and – of course – during the summer Bank Holidays.
Cones versus tubs
In 2023, tubs accounted for 60% of Morelli’s sales with cones making up 40%. This year, cones have caught up, with sales now evenly split between tubs (50%) and cones (50%).
Boosting sales of cones in 2024 was the launch of a number of new products in the Morelli’s range, including the eye-catching Morelli Purple Cone. Morelli’s also offers Gluten Free cones, and tubs that hold up to six scoops for those interested in sharing (or not sharing).
Commenting on this year’s ice cream trends, Daniela Morelli-Kerrfrom Morelli’s Ice Cream said:
“We love looking back each year at the trends in our sales, so we can develop new products with our loyal customers in mind. We can see the Salted Caramel trend is still going strong, and we think Salted Chocolate will be a follow-up trend and one to watch for next year.
“Although our new and more unusual flavours are becoming more popular, it’s the traditional flavours that remain at the top. I think we’ll always be a nation of Vanilla and Honeycomb lovers, but it’s great to see flavours like Devil’s Churn Ripple breaking into the bestseller charts.”
The sales figures have been released by Morelli’s Ice Cream following a successful year for the business, expanding into 120Sainsbury’s UK stores, winning the ‘Best Vanilla’ award at the Ice Cream Alliance (ICA) National Ice Cream Championships and sending a consignment of ice cream to the family’s home village Casalattico in Italy for an annual festival celebrating Irish culture.
Speaking on the company’s recent successes, Daniela added:
“From expanding to a further 120 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, to sending ice cream to our home village in Italy, we’re proud to say 2024 has been a great year for Morelli’s Ice Cream. We are sograteful to our customers for their continued support, especially on Sundays!”
Morelli’s top 10 bestselling flavours of summer 2024:
1. Honeycomb
2. Double Cream Vanilla
3. Chocolate
4. Mint & Chocolate Chip
5. Raspberry Ripple
6. Unicorn
7. Oreos & Cream
8. Strawberry
9. Sea Salty Caramel
10. Bubblegum
Morelli’s bestselling ice cream toppings of summer 2024:
1. Chocolate sprinkles
2. Rainbow sprinkles
3. Honeycomb pieces
4. Oreo Biscuit
5. Lotus Crumb
Morelli’s bestselling ice cream flavours of summer 2024 by county:
County Antrim:
1. Honeycomb
2. Double Cream Vanilla
3. Chocolate
County Armagh:
1. Honeycomb
2. Double Cream Vanilla
3. Chocolate
County Down:
1. Double Cream Vanilla
2. Honeycomb
3. Chocolate
County Fermanagh:
1. Double Cream Vanilla
2. Honeycomb
3. Mint & Chocolate Chip
County L/Derry:
1. Honeycomb
2. Double Cream Vanilla
3. Raspberry Ripple
County Tyrone:
1. Double Cream Vanilla
2. Honeycomb
3. Raspberry Ripple
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