India is a country with a tropical climate. The summers here are hot and humid, making it especially tempting to eat cold food, beverages, and desserts, which makes the summer even more relishing and enjoyable. They are widely used. Frozen desserts like Kulfi, Faluda and Ice Gola are also quite popular. However, what makes the summer in India more memorable and enjoyable is ice cream is the top ice cream brands in India.

I Scream! You Scream! We all Scream for Ice Cream
Earlier History
Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts have been an age-old concept. Maily originated in the Middle East and Europe, and it evolved as a major delicacy during the Italian and French rule, by the name of Geleto. The concept of eating frozen dessert has been widely accepted as a culinary item all over the world. In addition to this, each country and region has their own way of preparing and serving ice creams, making it a unique part of their social and culinary culture.
Though the existence of iced sweets or frozen desserts is not recorded. However, the first mention of something like ice cream or frozen dessert is in Persian history at around 550 BC. Around the 1st century, Roman books mention a sweet dessert topped with crushed ice. Around the 13th century, the Middle East records mention a dish made of fruit juice, milk, dates and nuts, seasoned with ice.
Medieval Period
Around the 16th century AD, the Mughals used to create a dish using milk cream, fruit syrup, crystal sugar, nuts and honey, which was chilled with the snow brought from the mountains of the Hindu Kush. Also, various sorbet-based desserts were in popular culture. Also, it was very effectively consumed by commoners and traders in the scorching heat of summer in India. This recipe was later transported to Europe through the traveller and explorer, Marco Polo.
The discovery of the endothermic nature of Ice by adding salt to it caused the longer availability of ice creams in countries like France and Italy. In the UK, Charles I of England was so impressed by this dish that he offered the cook a lifetime pension to keep the dish a royal secret.
Modern Time
Ice cream Soda and ice cream sundae were developed and became an instant hit. In 1904, at the World Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, the first Ice cream cone was made. Over the 20th century, the concepts of Soda Shops, Ice cream trucks and ice cream parlours gained immense popularity. Many brands emerged known for their unique and mass appealing taste in ice cream and innovations like ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cake. Brands like Baskin-Robbins gained popularity by offering 31 flavours, one for each day of the month. It has now reached around 1000 exclusive flavours.
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7 Top Ice Cream Brands Of India
India is one of the largest consumers of ice cream and frozen desserts in the world. With many Indian as well as international brands working in offering the high quality ice creams and other cold edibles. These ice cream brands in India are very popular among the people of India, for Ice Cream:
1. Amul
Owned by Gujarat Milk Co-Operative Society, this Gujarat-based company is the largest ice Cream producer in India with manufacturing over Gujarat. The company is well-reputed for its quality milk products and ice creams. With its distribution booths all over Gujarat and some major cities of India, this milk and ice cream brand has been catering to customers for the past 79 years with its high-quality products. It has gained a great deal of trust by using milk-based ingredients and natural products for its ice creams.

2. Kwality Walls
A subsidiary of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, it is known for providing trendy flavours and interesting packaging, which makes it a well-recognised brand among the younger audience. The brand has a stronger supply chain and uses the latest freezing technology on a global scale, which makes it a highly accessible brand.

3. Vadilal
Another major brand from Gujarat, Vadilal Industries Ltd., is one of the leading ice cream and frozen dessert manufacturers of India. Beginning with the humble roots, this brand is considered a major competition for Amul for a long. It is one of the largest exporters of frozen desserts and ice cream-based products in the US and the Middle East.

4. Havmor
With the collaboration with the South Korean FMCG brand, LOTTE group, Havmor is a subsidiary of LOTTE Wellfood Co. and is one of the fastest-growing ice cream brands in India. Known for using Foreign Direct Investment or FDI, it uses the majority of the funds on R&D of new and innovative flavours, upgrading its machinery and improving the production and distribution channels.
5.Cream Bell
Managed by the Devyani Food Industries Ltd, Cream Bell has a strong local collection as well as a distribution channel, which makes it a leading contender as the manufacturer of ice creams in India. Highly advance facility and the use of state-of-the-art technology ensure that the production numbers and quality remain consistent for a longer period.

6. Mother Dairy
A major consumer of liquid milk in Northern India, Mother Dairy is managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Their product ranges from milk consumables, ice creams and frozen desserts. They are known to provide high-quality products at a relatively affordable price range. Also, the distribution channel is very strong even at the rural level.

7. Arun Ice Creams
Leading milk consumer and distributor in Southern India, Arun Ice Cream is a well-known name in the southern states and metro cities. This ice cream brand is owned by Hatsun Agro Products Ltd. and has strong ties with local agriculturists, farmers and milk suppliers. Known for its taste and quality, it is a highly regarded name in both urban and rural regions.
From ancient Persian iced sweets to the Mughal Empire’s chilled delicacies, frozen desserts have evolved globally into a social staple. In India, brands like Amul, Kwality Walls, and Vadilal dominate a rapidly growing market. Combining rich heritage with modern innovation, these brands continue to make Indian summers sweet and memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What other ice cream brands are operating in the Indian market?
Other brands like Hocco, Dinshaw, Naturals, Top N Town and more are operating on various scales in the Indian Ice Cream market.
Q2. How much ice cream does India export?
India exports about 0.19% of its global exports, which amounts to around $12.9 million worth of ice creams in the year 2024 – 2025.
Q3. In what countries does India export ice cream?
Despite strict food safety standards, India is able to export its ice creams to the US and the UAE. Other than that, we also export in countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and the Maldives.
Q4. Why does India not exporting in UK?
The UK has stricter laws regarding the usage of permitted food colourings and flavours, which many Indian brands fail to comply with. That’s the reason India has not exported ice cream in the UK on a wider scale.
Q5. What is the estimated growth rate of the ice cream market in India?
India is estimated to have a market growth of around at the annual CAGR of 9.3% between 2027 – 2032, in urban as well as rural areas of India.

