As the UK school summer holidays commence, ice cream becomes a staple treat, cherished by many. A new study conducted by QR Code Generator has unveiled the most popular ice cream brands and flavours across the nation, based on Google search data.
The study scrutinised search data for 106 different ice cream flavours and brands in cities across the UK. Among the 31 brands analysed were well-known names such as Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, Walls, Hackney Gelato, Gelato Italia, Haagen-Dazs, Halo Top, Mackie’s of Scotland, and Kelly’s of Cornwall.
The flavours reviewed in the study ranged from classic choices like vanilla and chocolate to more unique varieties such as earl grey, rum raisin, and even bacon. The analysis included searches with variations such as “[flavour] ice cream”, “[flavour] ice cream recipe”, “how to make [flavour] ice cream”, “how to make homemade [flavour] ice cream”, and “[flavour] ice cream near me”.
Popular search terms included “where to buy Halo Top ice cream”, “how to make homemade rum and raisin ice cream”, “amaretto ice cream recipe”, and “pina colada ice cream”.
Top Ice Cream Brands in the UK
Magnum emerged as the most popular brand with an average of 6,554 monthly searches. Following Magnum, Mackie’s of Scotland secured the second spot with 3,349 searches, while Walls came in third with 2,803 searches. Other brands in the top ten included Feast, Haagen-Dazs, Halo Top, Judes, Viennetta, Nuii, and Cornetto.
The full ranking of the top 20 ice cream brands is as follows:
| Rank | Flavour | Avg. Monthly Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnum | 6,554 |
| 2 | Mackies of Scotland | 3,349 |
| 3 | Walls | 2,803 |
| 4 | Feast | 2,730 |
| 5 | Haagen Dazs | 2,511 |
| 6 | Halo Top | 2,383 |
| 7 | Judes | 2,342 |
| 8 | Viennetta | 2,133 |
| 9 | Nuii | 2,090 |
| 10 | Cornetto | 1,900 |
| 11 | Carte D’or | 1,324 |
| 12 | Oppo | 1,240 |
| 13 | Little Moons | 1,051 |
| 14 | Cadbury | 890 |
| 15 | Snugburys | 859 |
| 16 | Grom | 837 |
| 17 | Morelli | 792 |
| 18 | Ben & Jerrys | 670 |
| 19 | Kellys of Cornwall | 482 |
| 20 | Lyons Maid | 325 |
Most Popular Ice Cream Flavours
Vanilla topped the list as the nation’s favourite flavour, with an average monthly search volume of 5,150. Rum raisin followed closely with 5,081 searches, while pistachio secured the third spot with 4,992 searches. Other popular flavours included neapolitan, banana, coconut, chocolate, coffee, and strawberry.
Here is the complete list of the top 20 ice cream flavours in the UK:
| Rank | Flavour | Average Monthly Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanilla | 5,150 |
| 2 | Rum Raisin | 5,081 |
| 3 | Pistachio | 4,992 |
| 4 | Neapolitan | 4,463 |
| 5 | Banana | 4,199 |
| 6 | Coconut | 3,860 |
| 7 | Chocolate | 3,702 |
| 8 | Coffee | 3,275 |
| 9 | Strawberry | 3,117 |
| 10 | Bubble-gum | 3,029 |
| 11 | Mango | 2,550 |
| 12 | Cookie Dough | 2,381 |
| 13 | Honeycomb | 2,353 |
| 14 | Mint chocolate chip | 2,254 |
| 15 | Ube | 2,030 |
| 16 | Tutti Frutti | 1,902 |
| 17 | Lemon | 1,623 |
| 18 | Salted Caramel | 1,536 |
| 19 | Raspberry Ripple | 1,371 |
| 20 | Cherry | 1,227 |
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO S.L, commented on the findings: “Warmer temperatures make ice cream a perfect, refreshing treat to cool down. Ice cream is a long-standing tradition in the UK, evoking memories of childhood, family outings, and holidays by the seaside. Whether it’s during celebrations, gatherings, or leisurely summer days, ice cream is a sweet treat enjoyed by many.”
Porcar also highlighted the regional specialities in the UK, noting Cornwall and Devon for their renowned dairy farms and high-quality ice cream, and Aberdeenshire in Scotland for brands like Mackie’s of Scotland, which uses fresh milk and cream from their own cows.
This study underscores the enduring love for ice cream across the UK, with traditional favourites and innovative flavours alike capturing the public’s taste buds.