A poll of 2,000 parents found that the average ice cream price is now £2.65 in the UK – and the average child will eat three ice creams a week over the summer holidays, costing nearly £50 per child
Parents will spend nearly £50 per child on ice creams over the summer holidays – with one in 10 paying as much as £4 a cone from an ice cream van. The vast majority of parents (85%) believe that paying 99p for a whippy ice cream is a thing of the past. And according to the poll of 2,000 parents the average price of the treat is now £2.65.
Those in Leeds are paying the most at £2.86 a time, followed by London (£2.82), Bristol and Manchester (both £2.80). But in Leeds, 18% of parents say they pay at least £4 each time they buy a cone – more than in any other UK city.
The average child will enjoy three ice creams a week over the summer holidays, bringing the total to £47.70 over the six-week break. To help cover the costs, one in three parents have gone without buying an ice cream for themselves, meanwhile, a quarter have even told their child that the ice cream van has run out of ice cream to avoid the expense.
The research was commissioned by Aldi, which surprised families this week with a ‘Summer Cool Down ice cream van’ in London, which gave out free ice creams.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer for the supermarket brand, said: “Summer holidays are becoming increasingly expensive for families, with the cost of everyday treats and activities quickly adding up.
“With so many families budgeting months in advance and worrying about costs, it’s never been more important that everyday essentials and family favourites remain affordable.
“That’s why we’re committed to keeping prices low on popular summer products as we know it can make a real difference, helping families enjoy the holiday period without having to compromise on the moments that matter most.”
Research has shown that families spend an extra £200 on average over the summer holidays, compared to term time. Weekly grocery bills rise by £49, while parents expect to spend an average of £134 on dining out, £105 on holiday clubs and £132 on day trip tickets.
Even staying closer to home doesn’t come cheap, with at-home activities such as arts and crafts costing parents an average of £70 over the break.
As a result, a third of parents are concerned about the cost, while 30% budget in advance to make the most of their time with their children – with 21% starting to plan as early as January.
It also emerged that 38% of parents want to give their children the best summer possible but feel restricted by what they can afford.
To help support families during the school holidays, Aldi has slashed prices on more than 300 family favourites as part of its broader £300 million investment to reduce prices on over 1,000 products this year.
It has also launched a Summer Support Scheme, giving away £50 shops to families every day throughout July and August.
MOST EXPENSIVE 99s ACROSS THE UK:
- Leeds
- London
- Bristol
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- Leicester
- Sheffield
- Newcastle
- Glasgow
- Birmingham
