A trip to the ice cream store has turned into a trip to the freezer for cost-conscious consumers looking to save money on frozen treats.
Some 72 percent of American adults said keeping their home stocked with ice cream and treats like popsicles saves money over going out for dessert and is a convenient way to quell a craving, according to a new study of 2,000 U.S. adults by the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association published Thursday.
“Frozen treats give people an easy way to create a small moment of enjoyment at home,” the association’s CEO, Tricia Greyshock, said in a press release. “What matters is that it feels special without requiring a lot of planning or expense.”
True to the season, the survey found that 43 percent of adults say that hot weather and summer cravings are the most cited reasons for buying a frozen dessert from the grocery store.
Consumers’ preference for at-home frozen treats during the summer is an inflation-busting choice. The cost of ice cream and related desserts fell by 2.1 percent month on month in June and 1.3 percent year on year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meanwhile, the cost of eating out rose 0.2 percent month on month and 3.4 percent year on year.
Americans’ preference for at-home frozen desserts is part of a larger trend in dining. Some 32 percent of consumers eat out less than they did six months ago, with higher rates of cutbacks from low-income households (40 percent) and Gen Z (37 percent), according to a February study from Boston Consulting Group.
In recent weeks, fast food restaurants have suffered a loss in foot traffic linked to outbreaks of a nasty gastrointestinal illness, caused by contamination of produce with the cyclospora parasite.
Foot traffic at Taco Bell, which has been linked to an outbreak, saw year-on-year foot traffic decline by 29.8 percent last Saturday.
Panera saw traffic fall by 7 percent, while salad and grain bowl restaurant Sweetgreen dealt with a 3 percent traffic dip.
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Parasites aside, there’s a general feeling among consumers that food quality and portion sizes are the biggest disappointment for diners, according to a January study from research firm McKinsey.
Restaurants have responded by introducing value menus and paying attention to portion sizes, the National Association of Convenience Stores pointed out in a June analysis of inflation’s impact on restaurant menus.
Some of the top values at fast food chains include McDonald’s $5 meal deals for the brand’s app users that serve a sandwich, small fries, four chicken nuggets and a small drink, and Burger King’s $5 Duo and $7 Trio promotions that let customers pick two or three entrees.
