Which US ice cream brands scream the loudest this summer?
As temperatures rise, so too does America's appetite for ice cream. Average Consideration for a list of leading ice cream brands has climbed from 18.3 at the start of the year to 20.9, just as the season of sunshine and sprinkles gets into full swing.
At the top of the list is Breyers, leading with a score of 36.8, proving that classic supermarket staples still hold strong sway with consumers. Just behind, Dairy Queen (31.4) bridges the gap between retail and fast-service treats, while Ben & Jerry's (30.7) and Häagen-Dazs (29.3) continue to appeal to those chasing indulgence and variety.
Tillamook ranks fifth at 26.1, standing out as a premium grocery brand that has steadily built a reputation for quality. In the dining segment, Culver’s (21.2) maintains a solid foothold thanks to its popular frozen custard offering, followed by Baskin Robbins (13.5), Dreyer’s (12.7), and Cold Stone Creamery (10.2), rounding out the list of most considered ice cream-focused brands.
From supermarket aisles to specialty counters, it's clear that as summer unfolds, ice cream is not just a craving — it's a competitive arena for attention.
Who’s craving which cone?
As ice cream consideration rises across the US with the onset of summer, the demographic composition of those considering leading brands reveals distinct audience profiles.
Ben & Jerry’s has one of the youngest followings, with a third of its considerers aged 18–34 — the highest among all brands. Cold Stone Creamery and Culver’s also skew younger, while Breyers, Dreyer’s, and Häagen-Dazs have older-leaning audiences by comparison.
Gender skews are generally balanced across the board, but some subtle differences emerge. Dreyer’s has the most male-skewed considerer base (54%), while Breyers and Tillamook lean slightly more female by comparison.
Income composition also varies. Brands like Dairy Queen, Breyers, and Baskin Robbins have higher shares of lower-income consumers in their consideration sets. In contrast, Tillamook and Häagen-Dazs see lower proportions of lower-income individuals, suggesting a relatively more upscale audience.
These insights reflect how each brand positions itself — whether as a mass-market favorite or a premium indulgence — and which Americans are tuning in.
Methodology: YouGov BrandIndex tracks consumer perceptions of thousands of brands daily. Consideration is based on the question: “When you are in the market next to purchase from a brand in this category, which brands would you consider?” The score represents the percentage of regular ice cream consumers (those who have ice cream at least once per quarter) who would consider purchasing from a given brand. Scores represent an average over the past three months. All data is based on a nationally representative sample of US adults, collected online and weighted by age, gender, region, and other demographics.
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