Anytime should be Ice Cream Time , isn’t it ???
Ice creams are not just for summer days to cool off when it’s so hot outside that you’re sweating even when you’re doing nothing. In my opinion, ice cream can -and should be- enjoyed all year round, even when there’s frost outside and you’ve got a fire going in the fireplace, just a perfect cozy warm house.
Ice Cream is really good in every season. In north India, it is sort of a fashion to go out after dinner in search of an ice cream. Asked once, “why eat ice cream in winters”, the reply was amazing that “this chill pill has its own taste in winters, try it”. And it really was!!
Undoubtedly in summers, we can cool off from a delicious scoop of our favorite flavour of ice cream and in the winter, we can bring out the best in the cold weather by enjoying our favorite hot gulab jamun accompanied by our favorite flavour of ice cream with hot chocolate syrup. Now that’s what we call ‘Winter Thrills’!!!
Why Winter Is Actually the Best Time to Eat Ice Cream?
Because cold weather adds a thrill to an already frozen treat.
You will hardly find anyone who doesn’t love ice cream. Unfortunately, many of the most enthusiastic ice cream aficionados believe the myth that you should only eat ice cream in the summer. Those people are missing out a big time. Of course, everyone like to chill with a cone of soft serve, cookie dough, or coffee Oreo on a hot summer’s day. Honestly, many European nations probably enjoy it even more in winters. People there firmly believe that winter is a great time for ice cream, maybe even the best time. Here’s why:
Because there are no queues at the ice cream counters in winters.
No queues mean less time between when you decide to get ice cream and when you actually get to eat ice cream.
Because you can take your ice cream to go without worrying about it melting on the road.
Winter means you get to eat ice cream without the stress of having to lick your melting ice cream before it starts dripping everywhere. Take your time, savour your ice cream. Similarly, the cold world is your freezer. Don’t have space for a carton of ice cream in the freezer? Just leave it outside in the snow until you’re ready to eat it!!
Because nothing soothes a sore throat like ice cream.
Colds and sore throats are as much a part of winter as skating and skiing. While you could stick to cough drops, wouldn’t you much rather soothe your raw throat with some cool, smooth ice cream?
Because more traditional winter desserts (think warm brownies and pies) aren’t complete without a scoop ice cream on top
Cold weather and cold treats go excellently together. It’s time we all embraced this fact. Besides, do you really need to be talked into getting an ice cream?
Some current facts:
The coolest treat on earth: Ice Cream, has a predominant market in India with its rising CAGR at 4.7%. The global ice cream market is forecasted to reach US$73.2 billion by 2022.
Ever since the pandemic, many industries have brought their shutters down. Ice cream industry had a negative impact in this year’s summer sale. Yet not losing any hopes, the industry is striving for its emergence on the calmer waters. The Food & Beverage industry cannot remain hidden behind a veil. Food industry throughout the lockdown has remained active to feed the hungry stomachs. Many ice cream manufacturers sorted to online sales and community sales, an activity unheard of. Ice Cream Is Good For Your Health!
Ok, so we all enjoy eating ice cream on a hot summer day…well let’s be honest, we all love eating ice cream any darn day! We’ve all heard about the many disadvantages to eating ice cream as well but as promised we’ve found some health benefits to eating our favourite tasty frozen treat. It’s not just the taste of ice cream that makes it a great food to consume, it has all the nutrients that nourishes our body. We find everything, from vitamin D and riboflavin to vitamin A and calcium in the average scoop of ice cream, all of which contribute to a healthy body.
1. Source of Vitamins
Did you know that ice cream happens to be a huge source of vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E! It doesn’t stop there. Apparently, ice cream contains vitamin K, which prevents blood clotting. Let’s not forget that ice cream also contains niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin.
2. Provides Energy
Not only does ice cream have nutritional value, it also is an incredible source of energy. As a diabetic, I understand that ice cream is rich with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which are all, needed for our bodies to produce energy. Careful on how much energy you want to get from ice cream, after all, it can also help you gain weight. Everything in moderation, remember!
3. Source of Minerals
Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are found in ice cream. Calcium is an essential mineral for us as it maintains strong bones and reduces the chances of kidney stones. Mood swings and PMS can also be prevented by eating ice cream. Who knew that fact !
4. Stimulates the Brain
Ice cream stimulates the thrombotonin, which is a hormone of happiness and helps in reducing the levels of stress in the body. Ice cream is made of milk, which contains L-triptophane, which is a natural tranquilizer and helps in relaxing the nervous system. It also helps prevent symptoms of insomnia.
Now, let’s get one thing straight. After listing all these fantastic health benefits of ice cream, by no means do we suggest you eat as much ice cream as you can or, god forbid, you binge on ice cream all the time.
With as many benefits that may come with eating ice cream, there is probably an equal amount of health issues that could arise from eating too much.
Choose your flavours wisely and eat responsibly. Everything in moderation is beneficial, point to remember!
Enough said!
Ice cream times is always on a lookout for some interesting topics to cover for its newspaper. What crossed our minds was why not make people aware of the goodness of eating ice cream in winters (no doubt it should be taken moderately) but it has its own charm of devouring ice treats in cold weather. Talking to the few of the ice cream manufacturers on the concerned subject, we bring to you their views on it:
Choosing Ice cream-making as a business
Abid Hamidani, MD of Dilbahar Ice cream & Food Products Pvt Ltd, Bhavanagar, has been in ice cream business for quite some time. Found ed in 2006, Dilbahar Ice cream has been handed down from the elders who had a great passion of making ice cream as their business.
Tushar Iswarbhai Parmar of Forever Ice Cream has a unique way to express why he is into the ice cream business. He says, “If we close our eyes and think about any celebration then the only image that flashes in our memory is ice cream. So with ice cream we share and spread the joy and happiness all around us. Our nation is a nation of celebrations. With its diversified culture, we have more chances to grow our business. And working with total dedication surely brings positive results and success with it.
From Shirdi, we have Baba Bhai from Classic Ice cream. He says that ice cream industry is easier to understand compared to other complex industries, hence handling this business is really ‘cool’. As the ice cream business is your own work right from a little leaf, working way up sounds a little simple. The profit returns that this business gives are plentiful which also help us to expand our portfolio in form of flavors as well as region.
Vijay Gaitonde from Festival Ice Cream JYOT DAIRY expresses that ice creams & kulfies are his passion. “My dad Vasant Manjunath Gaitonde had started the ice cream business under the brand ‘Vasant’ way back in 1972. But unfortunately, due to emergency levied in 1975, he had to shut the company. Not losing courage, he started milk supply to Joy Ice cream & Kwality Ice creams. After sometime when I joined the business, we started manufacturing basundi and supplied to Kwality Ice cream from 1989 to 1994. This time again luck failed us, I again faced a setback when Kwality brand got sold to Kwality Walls. This set the ball rolling again and this time we introduced ice cream under the brand FESTIVAL”.
Abdul Mushahid Khan, MD Cream Town Ice cream, Indore, is of the view that not only ice cream but every business is chosen for some earning of livelihood.
It is true that some inherit business while others choose as a way of earning. The simplicity of Ice cream business being the main reason.
Course of Actionin Post-Covid Era
“Pandemic was totally unexpected and worst year for all economies. As for Dilbahar Ice cream, we are working hard to build up the lost time and striving for the development of our routine work. We are also foraying into new products which are immunity booster like ayurvedic ice cream”, cited Hamidani.
Parmar has well said about the work to be done in post-covid period. Treating corona outbreak in a more constructive way, he says that crisis like these occur to give us a break and chance to think about improvement and to have a positive approach to start business afresh. Now with reference to this outbreak we can improve our quality, our strategy, and update new ice cream flavours ….to have best result of this negative time period”.
Khan too opines the same. His words of foraying into new innovation, proper marketing strategy and well planned supply management, will help him to emerge from the quicksand of time.
As covid has wiped out the sales this year, Baba bhai wants to search a new market using digital marketing. Find better strategy to bring in new customers should be preferred.
“Considering the outbreak of the pandemic, it is a serious situation with us also. We are planning some diversification, addition of geographical locations, and to start some trading activity”, said Gaitonde.
Seasonal Availability of Ice Cream in India
Hamidani too prefers to have ice cream season throughout the year and not limiting it to summer sales. In India there exists consumers of different mental caliber and according to them the ice cream should only be eaten in summers, but actually ice cream is a product that can be consumed in all seasons.
Taken aback, Parmar wonders why ice cream should only be a summer chill! But there is also one truth that after one season gets over, the manufacturers have slack time in business. The ice cream consumption is limited to seasonal just because people’s lack of knowledge. There is myth in minds of the people that winters are not good for ice cream which is not true at all.
The people in India prefer having natural drinks in hot season, i.e. lemon, orange, sugarcane juice. And are not aware of Ice cream, softy, cold drinks for the winter months, informs Baba bhai.
A good point set forth by Gaitonde is, “As per my knowledge the consumption of ice cream in India is co -related with temperature and summer holidays, whereas in other countries it satiating taste buds, binge, strong cravings, mood busters, also the portion size in countries abroad are very large.
Smartly added by Khan, “It is only a thinking that icecream consumption should be seasonal. If icecream availability was to be seasonal than popular brands like Amul, Vadilal, Kwality Walls etc… would not make high investment in this business andbuild this kind of mass manufacturing units”.
Productive Step forIce Cream Availability Year Round
Hamidani prefers initiative like advertisements, schemes, and multiple options of social media to generalize the idea to make ice cream available in winters too. Advertising is a powerful media to create awareness amongst the consumers about availability of ice cream throughout the year.
Parmar hopes to give better quality with more flavour options and easy availability of the flavourful ice cream easily. He wishes to offer 365 different flavours and products made up of ice cream for his loyal customers to attract them daily.
To create awareness and invoke goodness of ice cream in people, take to digital marketing, have prompt marketing strategies, maintain quality and assurance will help to awaken the mass about eating ice cream in winters, speaks Baba bhai.
Educating through advertising about the product safety will boost ice cream sales in winters says Gaitonde. He further adds, “Medical fraternity including dentists have to be taken into confidence. Some brand ambassadors can also be invited in our meetings. As soon as the rains starts doctors start prohibiting ice cream consumptions which I suppose is the biggest myth. “Ice cream khane se bimar padate hain” is the patent dialogues heard frequently. Also senior or big brands should have campaign in support of ice cream sales. For e.g. eggs association do adverts for eggs of eating eggs every day. “Sunday hoya Monday, Roz Khao Andey”. Schools can also participate in such campaigns. Further, ice cream can be sold as FOOD that provides nutrition and health to the human body. All times is ice cream times-not just as dessert, but breakfast, lunch, dinner also. Different products related to ice creamshould be promoted saying “Din bhar khao ice cream”.
By manufacturing very good quality products and promoting it by convincing the customers that ice cream is not a seasonable product and we can eat it throughout the year, will have its own benefit of advertisement. What Khan believes is that if the display of the ice creams are attractive than there is 100 percent surety of its sales. The display matters the most because what eyes sees, the mind buys!!Growth forecast in post covid times
Clearly, we are not aware of the future, we cannot predict anything as of now, but we will put in our work hard in every moment for our products, Hamidani said.
In comparison to pre-covid, my growth forecast for coming years is to have retail business and to have direct interaction with customer to improve products, states Parmar.
We shall focus to increase our sales 2x but actually there is no proper planning due to covid-19, because circumstances prevailing in the country changes within shortest possible time, adds Baba bhai.
Khan says that to rise up to the post covid time we can win the situation by improving our quality of products and hardworking efforts.With a very positive conclusion Gaitonde says, “I personally hope that covid will be a thing of past. Fear will vanish and India will bounce back with much more vigor”.
It’s always ice cream season