Prices of some of the most popular ice creams have risen by way above the level of inflation, according to a new price survey by consumer group Which?.
Cornetto and Solero, two of Unilever PLC's (LSE:ULVR) key brands, have risen by up to 38% in the past two years, the consumer group found, with some Nestlé brands also seeing substantially above-inflation hikes.
Rising costs of energy and ingredients have played a part, but these have eased recently and Which? said it had found several supermarket own-label alternatives that taste better and cost less.
Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “Few of us can resist an ice cream on a hot summer’s day, but the price hikes our research has revealed could leave ice cream lovers feeling cold.
“Thankfully, Which?’s tests have unearthed some own-brand supermarket alternatives that taste better and cost less than their big-brand rivals.”
Unilever, which has put its ice cream arm up for sale, said: “We are committed to using the highest-quality ingredients for our ice cream products.
“The retail price of our products is always at the sole discretion of the retailer and we, like all manufacturers, only provide a recommended retail price.”
A spokesman for Froneri, the licensed manufacturer for all Nestlé lollies and ice cream in the UK, said: “Retail pricing is always at the sole discretion of individual retailers.
“We have been working to be more efficient and absorb increasing costs where possible.
“However, in order to maintain the highest standards of quality, it has sometimes been necessary to make adjustments to the price of some of our products.”