From flavor preferences to peak ordering times, here's a comprehensive look at the rise of ice cream delivery culture across the continent—and what it means for gelaterias and dessert brands.
📈 2020: The Breakthrough Year for Ice Cream Delivery
According to the “Gelato-Delivery” report by Deliveroo and Sistema Gelato, 2020 marked a turning point in how people enjoy artisan gelato.
- 113% increase in gelato orders compared to 2019
- 312% increase in fall orders (September to November), breaking the myth that gelato is only for summer
- 60% more gelato shops joined Deliveroo’s platform compared to the previous year
This surge highlights the growing importance of delivery services in supporting local gelato businesses, especially during the pandemic and lockdowns.
"Food delivery has supported the restaurant industry, and artisan gelato helped make lockdown days sweeter," said Matteo Sarzana, General Manager of Deliveroo Italy.
"Thanks to delivery, independent gelaterias stayed active and even expanded their customer base."
"In many smaller cities, delivery became the main revenue source for gelato shops," added Antonio Verga Falzacappa, founder of Sistema Gelato.
"It's not just a summer trend—delivery supports sales in colder months and helps destagionalize gelato consumption."
🍦 Top Ice Cream Flavors by Country (2024)
Deliveroo’s latest report maps out the top 10 gelato flavors preferred by customers in each country:
🇮🇹 Italy
- Pistachio
- Stracciatella
- Hazelnut
- Crema
- Chocolate
- Fiordilatte
- Strawberry
- Yogurt
- Gianduia
- Caramel
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Strawberry
- Mint Choc Chip
- Cookie Dough
- Oreo
- Coconut
- Banana
- Coffee
- Pistachio
🇮🇪 Ireland
- Vanilla
- Honeycomb
- Cookie
- Oreo
- Dulce de Leche
- Caramel
- Chocolate
- Strawberry
- Mint Choc Chip
- Salted Caramel
🇫🇷 France
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Pistachio
- Stracciatella
- Caramel
- Hazelnut
- Amarena
- Strawberry
- Lemon
- Coffee
🇧🇪 Belgium
- Pistachio
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Stracciatella
- Salted Caramel
- Fiordilatte
- Speculoos
- Coffee
🇪🇸 Spain
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Oreo
- Strawberry
- White Chocolate
- Dulce de Leche
- Nutella
- Hazelnut
- Lemon
- Crema
🌍 Gelato-Loving Cities: Where Is Ice Cream Delivery Booming?
Deliveroo also ranked the cities with the highest gelato delivery orders. Some surprises emerged:
🇮🇹 Italy
- Top cities: Milan, Rome, Florence, Cagliari, Bergamo
- Highest per-capita consumption: Somma Lombardo, Ferrara, Fabriano
🇬🇧 UK
- London, Glasgow, Oxford, Belfast, Brighton
🇮🇪 Ireland
- Dublin and Cork lead gelato orders, with a strong evening preference around 7 p.m.
🇫🇷 France
- Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Grenoble
- Peak order time: 4:00 p.m.—a popular snack hour
🇧🇪 Belgium
- Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp
- Peak order time: around 8:00 p.m.
🇪🇸 Spain
- Madrid, Barcelona, La Coruña, Alicante, Valencia
- Spaniards prefer ordering ice cream earlier: around 6:00 p.m.
🔥 Emerging Trends and Flavors to Watch
Deliveroo’s research also highlights a growing demand for gourmet and experimental flavors, particularly in Italy. Trending pairings include:
- Ricotta & Figs
- Elderflower & Nectarine
- Pineapple & Ginger
- Salted Peanut
- Cantaloupe Melon
- Banana & Lime
These creative combinations reflect a maturing palate among consumers and a push toward seasonal and local ingredients.
🕖 When Do Europeans Order Ice Cream?
The data shows clear national preferences for when people indulge:
Country | Peak Time |
|---|
Italy | 8:00 p.m. |
UK | 8:00 p.m. |
Ireland | 7:00 p.m. |
Spain | 6:00 p.m. |
France | 4:00 p.m. (snack) |
Belgium | 8:00 p.m. |
Notably, Sunday evening is the most popular time to order gelato across all countries.
💡 What This Means for Gelaterias and Dessert Brands
- Leverage delivery platforms like Deliveroo to increase year-round revenue
- Expand menus to include top local and trending flavors
- Promote evening and weekend offers, especially for Sunday nights
- Explore new pairings and limited-edition seasonal options
- Destagionalize sales by highlighting fall and winter delivery
📢 Takeaway
From Somma Lombardo to Madrid, from Mint Choc Chip to Ricotta & Figs, the ice cream delivery revolution is transforming how, when, and what consumers order. For artisan gelaterias and dessert brands, embracing delivery isn’t just a pandemic trend—it’s the future.