AHMEDABAD,April7,2012: Cold treats seem to be a hit with Amdavadis. The city consumes more ice-cream than bigger cities like Mumbai and Pune, says a report by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( Assocham). The report says almost 35% of ice-cream sold in India is savoured by the western region - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa. And, Ahmedabad tops the list in the region. The group's report takes into account countrywide consumption between April and December 2011. Put together, Delhi and Gujarat consume about 30% of the total ice-cream in the country. "The acceptance of ice cream as a dessert is higher in the western region, especially as compared to other cities. Another reason is the population here has a power to spend," says GCMMF MD RS Sodhi. GCMMF markets Amul ice-cream that dominates major metro markets of Maharashtra and Gujarat, like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat. "Demand for 500 ml and one-litre packets has doubled in recent years. Though the volumes come from traditional flavours, consumers like experimenting. International flavours, including different varieties of chocolate, are going to be in this season," says Rajesh Gandhi, managing director of Vadilal Industries who is also the president of the Indian Ice Cream Manufacturers' Association (IICMA). The report pegs the total size of the ice-cream market in India at Rs 3,000 crore, of which 60% is controlled by the organized sector.
