Ice Land Germany: The fact check (Update 2025)

Summer in Germany? That means long days, balmy nights - and lots of ice cream, of course! Whether in a cone, in a cup or as soft ice cream - for many, ice cream is not just a sweet treat, but pure joie de vivre.

But what does the German ice cream market really look like? Has the scoop really become more expensive? How much ice cream do Germans eat each year? And are there still enough ice cream parlors?

We have checked the latest figures - here are the most exciting facts about ice cream!

Question 1: Has ice cream become (much) more expensive?

It's the same every year: as soon as the temperatures rise, many people complain about the increased price of ice cream. 2024 should be no exception!

In fact, the price of a scoop of ice cream in Germany increased by an average of 6.2% in 2024 compared to 2023. While a scoop cost an average of €1.62 in 2023, it was already €1.72 in 2024.

There are clear differences:
- The scoop is most expensive in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
- Saxony-Anhalt, on the other hand, remains the cheapest region.
- And in big cities? Sure, ice cream costs more there!

Munich remains the undisputed leader with €2.12 per scoop, followed by Stuttgart (€1.95), Frankfurt (€1.88), Berlin (€1.82) and Leipzig (€1.75).

Looking at the last few years, the price of a scoop of ice cream rose by a whopping 43.5 % between 2018 and 2024 - while general inflation was 'only' 22 %.

Conclusion: Yes, ice cream has become significantly more expensive in Germany.

Question 2: Are ice cream parlors earning more money with the increased prices?

Sure, if prices rise, there should be more profit left over, right? Unfortunately not!

The reasons for the higher prices are understandable:

- Exploding energy costs - ice cream production is energy-intensive.
- Rising raw material prices - sugar, milk & co. are more expensive than ever before.
- Higher personnel costs - good personnel has its price.

Many ice cream parlors have only raised their prices to avoid operating at a loss.

Conclusion: No, despite the price increase, the ice cream parlors are not earning more than before.

Question 3: Is ice cream particularly expensive in Germany?

When on vacation in the south, many people notice that German ice cream isn't actually that expensive!

- Germany: €1.72
- Portugal & Greece: approx. €2.50
- Spain: approx. €3.00
- United Kingdom: approx. €3.49 (Ouch!)

And even in Munich (€2.12) the price is lower than in many other major cities:
- Vienna: €2.30
- Budapest: €2.70
- Paris: €3.50
- Copenhagen: €3.79 (!!)

Conclusion: No, ice cream in Germany is pretty cheap compared to many other countries!

Question 4: How many ice cream parlors are there in Germany - and are there more or fewer?

In 2022, there were around 4,900 ice cream parlors in Germany - that corresponds to one ice cream parlor per 17,000 inhabitants.

How does this compare internationally?

- Italy: The motherland of gelato has an estimated 38,000 ice cream parlors - that means one ice cream parlor for every 1,600 inhabitants! In some cities, such as Rome or Florence, you can find a gelateria on practically every corner.

- Spain: With around 14,000 ice cream parlors per 47 million inhabitants, Spain has around 1 ice cream parlor per 3,400 inhabitants - significantly higher than in Germany.

- Argentina: real ice cream lovers! Buenos Aires alone has over 1,000 ice cream parlors, and there are an estimated 15,000 nationwide. That's just 2,900 inhabitants per ice cream parlor.

- Japan: Surprise! Japan may not have a classic ice cream shop culture, but there are over 6,000 specialty shops forsoft ice cream and matcha ice cream - that's one for every 21,000 inhabitants.

- USA: Industrial ice cream dominates here, but there are still around 20,000 "ice cream stores" - that corresponds to one ice cream parlor per 16,500 inhabitants and is therefore almost identical to Germany.

And who is the undisputed leader?

The old town of Sirmione on Lake Garda! There are 12 ice cream parlors on just 0.08 km² - that's an incredible 150 ice cream parlors per square kilometer!

Long-term trend in Germany? Unfortunately declining.

- In 2008 there were still 6,100 ice cream parlors.
- 2017 there were still 5,500.
- 2022 only 4,900.

Conclusion: Germany has a solid density of ice cream parlors - but compared to Italy or Argentina, we are light years away. And the worst thing? The number of ice cream parlors continues to fall...

Question 5: How much ice cream do Germans eat - and what kind?

Ice cream consumption in Germany is falling slightly:
- 2022: 8.1 liters per capita
- 2023: 7.9 liters per capita

And where does the ice cream come from?
- 82.5 % industrial ice cream (supermarket & co.)
- 14.75 % artisan ice cream (ice cream parlor)
- 2.75 % soft ice cream

This means:
- Every German eats on average only 17 scoops of artisan ice cream per year.
- 1.5 scoops per visit - i.e. approx. 11-12 visits per year per person.

And soft ice cream? It's now an absolute niche product: less than 3 portions per person per year.

Conclusion: Germany is in the middle of the pack when it comes to ice cream consumption - but with an extremely high industrial share.

Question 6: When is the most ice cream eaten?

Of course, summer is the main ice season! June, July and August are the strongest months.

But the day of the week and the time of day are also exciting:
- Sunday is the main ice cream day!
- Business is at its hottest between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.

Conclusion: Summer, Sunday afternoon - the perfect time for an ice cream!?

Still not enough ice cream facts? Here are two more exciting insights:

1. how many ice cream parlors in Germany are in Italian hands?
Small spoiler: A lot! It is estimated that around 90% of the 2,800 or so Italian-run ice cream parlors with their own production are run by families from the Cadore and Zoldo regions.

2. which ice cream flavors are the most popular in Germany?

The classic flavors continue to dominate the preferences of Germans:

• Vanilla: tops the list of the most popular ice cream flavors.
• Chocolate: follows in second place.
• Strawberry: takes third place.

This ranking has remained relatively constant in recent years.

Fancy an ice cream? ? We're looking forward to the new season!

Do you have any questions about your ice cream parlor or do you want to open one yourself?
Then get in touch with us - we'll help you with machines, planning & concept!