Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is providing UK operators with a new ice cream offering, with the aim to drive footfall, increase margin and deliver a great guest experience.
Tapping into the growing on-the-go opportunity as well as the desserts occasion, UFS is delivering its ice cream range, including Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum brands, to operators across all foodservice sectors, including restaurants, casual dining outlets, bars and pubs.
To help drive incremental sales and increase profits all year round, UFS will also be offering support through category insight, ranging recommendations and point of sale material.
On-the-go and impulse
Consumer insight and research in the ‘impulse’ sector carried out by Unilever identified that when the weather is above 22°C, 40% of consumers are selecting ice cream over other well known on-the-go food products.
From an operator perspective, ice cream offers something which cannot be brought from home, which increases on-site spend.
The category drives up to 2.5 x more margin than chocolate and crisps, and operationally is very low impact as the products are pre-packaged and often self-serve.
Desserts
UFS is also driving the desserts segment using its portfolio of ice cream brands – a move designed to help operators tap into the significant sales opportunity presented.
According to UFS, ice cream is the number one favourite dessert option across all foodservice channels, with a quarter of eating-out occasions including a dessert, and 5% of all eating out occasions including ice cream.
However, research shows that barriers surrounding practicality, profit and quality have hindered outlets from tapping into this sales opportunity.
The new initiative from UFS has been created to help operators overcome these barriers, using extensive research of both operators and consumers to provide a range of products to suit different requirements across the foodservice sector.
From indulgent choices to lighter, vegan and free-from, the portfolio provides a range options, available with support and inspirational recipes.
To help speed up preparation time, ready-to-serve Mini Pots and Magnum Bonboneria will be available, as well as options that can be created in a maximum of three steps, such as Ben & Jerry’s and Carte D’or shakes and sundaes.
Hazel Detsiny, managing director of Food Solutions UK&I, said: “This move provides foodservice operators with a significant opportunity to drive footfall, increase margin and grow their business using some of the UK’s best-loved ice cream brands.
“Our heritage is in food service and culinary, and we have a great track record and years of expertise in this area.
“We already work with many of the biggest food operators in the UK, providing them with a best in class service, so it makes sense for us to simply extend our offering into a much-loved category that will drive incrementality and profit margin.
“We’re a one stop shop – from Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Knorr to delicious ice-creams such as Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s.”
