According to the V Congress of the Siberian Union of Milk Producers and Processors, in 2024 ice cream came out on top in popularity among dairy products among the Russian consumer.
In the period from January to August of this year, the demand for ice cream increased by 20%, which made it the most popular dairy product. Cream and yogurt took second and third places, respectively, while the category of cheese products showed a 46% drop, and the demand for kefir decreased by 1%.
Artem Belov, CEO of Soyuzmoloko, noted the positive dynamics in many segments: “In eight months, we have seen an increase in consumption by about 5%. Almost all the main categories show positive dynamics, except for cheese products and kefir, which has been showing a steady decline in consumption over the past few years.” Belov also stressed that the increase in consumption is accompanied by an increase in production in key categories.
However, in the last five years, some products such as margarines, spreads and skimmed milk powder have also shown negative dynamics. Production volumes also have an impact on the market: according to Belov, the increase in butter prices is partly due to an increase in demand for cream for ice cream production. As a result, Russia fully provided the domestic market with ice cream (101% of the required level), but butter remained at 75% of the needs, which is the worst indicator among dairy products.