Plant-based Ice Cream Market Size – By Product Type, By Packaging Type, By Distribution Channel, Forecast, 2025 – 2034

Plant-based Ice Cream Market Size

The plant-based ice cream market size was valued at USD 732.6 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.1 billion by the year 2034, at a growth rate of 4.4% from 2024 to 2034. This is primarily due to rising consumer demand for dairy-free healthier alternatives, environmental concerns, and ethical considerations.
 

Consumers recognize the tremendous costs of dairy production, while at the same time, increasing incidences of lactose intolerance is causing consumers to slowly shift towards plant-based diets. The market demand is comprised of innovations in varied sources such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk, and cashew milk. These varieties have added new flavours and textures to the products and expanded the customer base. These vegan ice creams are promoted as healthier, cholesterol-free, fat-free, lactose-free, and free from any animal ingredients which makes it perfect for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone with certain dietary preferences.
 

Recent improvements in innovation have elevated the textures and flavours of plant-based ice cream and broadened its appeal. Market leaders have developed a variety of flavours including vanilla, chocolate, matcha, cookie dough, and even fruity options. Along with specialty stores, supermarkets, and online shopping, distribution of products has become much easier.
 

The plant-based ice cream market is still very undeveloped and sensitive to prices, competition with dairy brands, and people's overall concerns about the taste and texture. Ongoing advancements in technology, expert marketing, and deeper public understanding of these products, this sector will continue growing, providing a sustainable and ethical solution to traditional ice cream.
 

Plant-based Ice Cream Market Trends

• Increasing Flavour Variety & Product Innovation: Some brands now use exotic flavors like matcha, salted caramel flavoured ice creams. There is also a large-scale development in indulgent options such as cookie dough, brownies and even nuts, all of which mimic the rich texture of traditional dairy ice-cream. It is becoming increasingly common to see the emergence of clean-label ingredients such as natural sweeteners and plant-derived emulsifiers to meet the rising demand for healthier alternatives.
   
• Rise Of Health Conscious and Eco-Friendly Consumers: Health consciousness, environmental sustainability is another major factor driving the growth of the plant-based ice cream market. As people become more aware of lactose intolerance, cholesterol, and saturated fats that come along with dairy products, consumers are often opting for alternatives made from plants and other whole foods. The concern surrounding dairy farming, including the greenhouse gas emissions, the water usage, and the land consumption is forcing a shift towards plant-based foods.
   
• Expansion in Retail & E-Commerce Channels: Most of the grocery chains including superstores like Walmart, health food stores, and even convenience stores are stocking plant-based ice cream brands due to the increasing consumer demand. Whole foods market, and Walmart are among the supermarket chains that have increased their plant-based frozen desserts offering to cater for those who value their well-being as well as vegans.
   
• Use of Alternative Ingredients: To achieve a taste and texture of dairy ice cream, brands often use different kinds of vegetable components. One such ingredient is coconut milk which is often used as its fat occurs in nature; however other types of plants like almond, oat, cashew and soy milks are now being combined as alternatives.
   
• Clean Label & Transparency: There is a shift in consumption in the plant-based market towards ice cream that does not contain any artificial preservatives, sweeteners or synthetic additives. The clean label movement is causing brands to shift towards preferring simple, recognizable ingredients that are non-GMO, organic and ethically sourced.
   

Plant-based Ice Cream Market Analysis

The plant-based ice cream market by form is segmented into blends & singles.
 

• Blends are often marketed as more nutritious, the market is expected to grow from USD 241 million in 2024 to USD 404.3 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 5.3%.
   
• The singles category is expected to grow from USD 491.7 million in 2024 to USD 727.8 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.0%. Despite singles having the largest market share, they are growing slower than blends.
   

The plant-based ice cream market by flavour is segmented into pouches, tray, bags, and boxes.
 

• Beans extract segment will reach USD 178.5 million in 2024 with a CAGR of 3.8% as plant-based ice cream brands gain a greater market share due to the inclusion of soy and other legumes which have a neutral taste and high protein content.
   
• The market will grow substantially on the nuts segment which include flavoured ice cream brands such as almond, cashew and hazelnut in USD 223 million in 2024 and USD 359.3 million by 2034 because these nuts have favourable taste and contain healthy fats and proteins appealing to health-conscious consumers.
   
• The fruits segment has a share of 33.7% in 2024 and is growing among the consumers looking for clean label products due to their refreshing taste. Fruits are essentially a low-calorie option which have additional functional benefits like antioxidants and probiotics making them ideal for the health-conscious dieters who still crave for some sweet indulgence.
   
• Flavoured ice creams with herb-based ingredients perhaps have the least consumer share but are still catered to by some makers due to their premium positioning. They may grow at a slower pace, but herbs still carry a certain level of appeal in the market for vegan ice cream because of their palatable and exotic taste often combined with nuts, fruits or even both.
   

The plant-based ice cream market by packaging type is segmented into tubs, cones, bars, and others.
 

• Tubs have been traditionally favoured by both consumers and manufacturers. They are greatly convenient, easy to store in bulk, and are easily reusable. This segment alone has an estimated growth rate of 4.9% which indicates there is a huge demand in these portioned servings. Tubs can store a great variety of portion sizes, from individual servings to family order and everything in between.
   
• With a market growth from USD 180.7 million in 2024 to USD 286.6 million in 2034, the Cones segment shows consistent growth. Cones are also highly preferred due their ease of use and portion control, especially by people who are always on the go. This shift in preference has also led to an increase in the demand for single serving cones, especially from younger consumers and busy professionals.
   
• The bars segment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.4% in 2024, becoming a convenient option for mess free individual portions. Portable bars are becoming popular snacks among health-conscious consumers, especially those who are always on the go.
   

The plant-based ice cream market by source is segmented into coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, cashew milk and others.
 

• The coconut milk segment is projected to fuel further steady and strong growth in a market already expected to grow from USD 263.3 million in 2024 to USD 432.6 million by 2034. This can be estimated based on the CAGR of 5%, which is supported by the fact that coconut milk has a creamy texture that works as an ice cream base.
   
• Soy milk is one of the largest segments and continues to grow with a steady 4.7% CAGR driven by its affordability, protein content, and versatility in both cooking as well as baking, though faced with stiff competition from coconut and almond milk.
   
• Almond milk is preferred by the growing health-conscious segment in the market, increasing its market share due to the light texture, health benefits but loses it slightly due to stiffer competition from coconut milk.
   
• The others category not only consisting of niche milks like oat and rice but also cashew milk is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.3% since it allows for the creation of dinner and dessert with a rich and creamy touch which the indulgent consumer loves.
   

The plant-based ice cream market by distribution channel is segmented into supermarket & hypermarkets, convenience stores, speciality stores, online retail & others.
 

• With the help of supermarkets and hypermarkets which are accessible to many people, the sales of plant-based ice cream are forecasted to grow from USD 359.2 million in 2024 to USD 590.6 million by 2034. These chains are expected to realize this along with other supporting investments with a CAGR of 5.1%. 
   
• Specialty stores are growing slower within the captive market segment of premium plant-based ice cream lovers, starting at USD 83.3 million in 2024 and having a CAGR of 3.1%. These niche stores are losing their market share with the rise of supermarkets. 
   

The U.S. maintains its momentum as the dominant governing market of lowest share in the plant-based ice cream market.
 

• The plant-based ice cream industry in United States is projected to hold USD 322.4 million in 2034. This growth entails the greater demand that is shifting towards dessert segments that are more healthy, easier to prepare, and save time while following a plant-based diet.
   
• The U.S. ice-cream market is also aided by an increase in single person households and busier lifestyles. Consumers are also slowly becoming more aware of sustainability and health. For such health-conscious consumers, plant-based ice cream is being increasingly accepted as a conventional replacement of ice cream.
   
• Retailers, especially snack bars, superstores, and ecommerce stores are adopting these evolving tastes of customers and are selling various types of plant-based ice cream such as organic, gluten free, and even allergen free to cater to the demand of variety and plant-based ice-creams desserts.
   

The plant-based ice cream market in Canada is projected to see healthy growth from 2025 to 2034
 

• With heightened understanding around plant-based lifestyles and the need for healthier options to ice cream, the Canadian market for plant-based ice cream is on the rise.
   
• The plant-based ice cream market in Canada is being chiefly driven by increasing concern for the environment, growing vegan populations, and the ever-increasing number of lactose intolerant and health focused consumers.
   
• There is a greater variety of plant-based products on the shelves of supermarkets and even some specialty shops, attracting both old and new customers.
   

Plant-based Ice Cream Market Share

The market for plant-based ice cream is fragmented and has global manufacturers, regional companies, and niche industry clients competing. It will grow tremendously in the Asia pacific and American regions.
 

The top 5 companies in the plant-based ice cream market includes Unilever, Nestle, Danone, Froneri and Alpro. These mentioned companies control over 40% of the market due to the regional focus and high attention on cultural taste and sustainability measures.
 

Unilever plunges their customers into the world of addiction with their plant-based ice creams like chocolate fudge brownie and peanut butter cup which are made with almond and cashew milk bases. Nestle produces a wide range of plant-based products under Haagen-Daws and Nestea. Some of their rich chocolate salted fudge truffles and creamy peanut butter chip are made using almond and coconut or even cashew bases because of the luscious consistency.
 

Danone So Delicious Dairy Free range incorporates rich coconut milk salted caramel brownie and almond milk mocha almond fudge flavours for the health-conscious market of non-GMO gluten-free products.
 

Froneri works with Alpro and focuses on marketing in the European region. They supply plant-based products under the trade names - Blu-ray and Cielo while introducing creamy Vegan Chocolate and Strawberry plant-based ice cream.
 

Plant-based Ice Cream Market Companies

Some of the eminent market participants operating in the pigment dispersion industry include:

• Alpro
• Barry Callebaut
• Cado Ice Cream
• Danone
• Froneri International
• Nadamoo
• Nestle
• Saffron Ice Cream Company
• Siri Millets
• Unilever
   

Plant-based Ice Cream Industry News:

• In 2024, Unilever has proposed an expansion of their manufacturing capabilities within North America. The scope of the expansion includes additional facilities for the Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum brands of plant-based ice creams. The new plants are scheduled to open in Q3 2024 and will be able to produce almond, oat, and coconut milk-based ice cream varieties.
   
• In 2024, Nestle partnered with Vegan Sweets Bakery to expand their Haagen-Dazs range of desserts. The partnership resulted in the introduction of new limited edition Vegan Sundae flavours, which are Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle and Vanilla Caramel Brownie Crunch.
   
• In 2023, Alpro introduces new products to their Ice Cream portfolio which is part of the product line that caters to the plant-based demographic. All new products were produced and launched in their facility located in the Netherlands. New introductions included Coconut & Caramel Crunch and Hazelnut Chocolate Ripple.
   

The plant-based ice cream market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecast in terms of revenue in USD Billion from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

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Market, By Form

• Blends
• Singles

Market, By Flavour

• Beans
• Nuts
• Fruits
• Herbs
• Others

Market, By Packaging type

• Tubs
• Cones
• Bars
• Others

Market, By Source

• Coconut milk
• Soy milk
• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Others

Market, By Distribution channel

• Supermarket & hypermarket
• Convenience stores
• Specialty stores
• Online retail
• Others

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada 
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands 
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea 
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• Middle East and Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • UAE