Spain’s at-home ice cream purchases rise 11.7% to nearly 152 million liters

Household market reaches €762.68 million

Ice cream purchases for consumption at home in Spain increased 11.7% during the moving year from June 2025 to May 2026, reaching 151.97 million liters. The value of the household market rose by a faster 16.3% to €762.68 million, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reported by ESdiario and Bolsamanía.

The average price reached €5.02 per liter, 4.1% above the previous-year period. ESdiario linked the increase to broadly higher costs for the raw materials used in ice cream production. Average consumption per resident rose 11.2% to 3.23 liters, while average spending increased 15.7% to €16.2. The difference between volume and value growth indicates that both higher demand and prices contributed to the market’s expansion.

Supermarkets control most household sales

Supermarkets accounted for 87.6% of the ice cream volume purchased by Spanish households, making them the dominant retail channel. Hypermarkets held an 8.2% share, leaving only a limited portion for traditional stores and other channels. Supermarkets also offered the lowest reported average price at €4.77 per kilogram or liter, compared with an overall market average of €5.02 and €7.72 at traditional stores.

Purchasing was strongest among households with at least three members and those with children. Demand was also relatively high in households where the main buyer was older than 50, among couples with older children and among adult couples without children. Castilla-La Mancha, the Region of Murcia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands recorded comparatively intensive consumption. Navarra and the Basque Country consumed less than their population shares would suggest.

Seasonality remains decisive

Spain’s ice cream market remains highly seasonal: 81.6% of household volume was consumed between April and September. July alone represented 20% of annual consumption, followed by June at 17.8% and August at 17.1%. Per-capita consumption averaged 0.65 liters in July and 0.56 liters in August, but fell to between 0.06 and 0.09 liters during winter months. This concentration makes production planning, inventories and retail promotions particularly dependent on the second and third quarters.

Consumption outside the home also grew, rising 5.2% from 2024 to 31.24 million kilograms or liters. Average annual consumption reached 0.87 kilograms or liters per person, up 4%, across roughly seven occasions. Establishments accounted for 61.3% of consumption and the street for 18.6%. Snacks represented 31.8% of occasions and lunch 30.5%. Impulse or immediate-appetite purchases generated 32.3%, while celebrations, social meetings and outings accounted for 29.1%. Out-of-home demand was particularly intensive in metropolitan Barcelona, Andalusia and the Levante area.