Ice Cream Manufacturing

INTRODUCTION

Ice cream is a frozen sweet food typically eaten as a dessert. It is extremely popular all around the world including India. People regardless of age, and seasons, love to take it. Ice cream may be made from milk, water, sugar (or an alternative sweetener), and other ingredients. There are numerous flavors of ice cream such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberries, mango, banana, orange, etc. With growing popularity, the demand for ice cream is only increasing, and it could be a profitable business opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs aiming to cater to such demands locally.

MARKET POTENTIAL

The ice cream industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the Indian food processing industry. The presence of a robust dairy industry, as well as significant expansion in the food and beverage sector, are major factors contributing to the expansion of the ice cream market. On average, a person in India consumes around half a liter of ice cream every year. Furthermore, market expansion especially in the rural areas is being fueled by advances in cold chain solutions and associated infrastructure. India’s ice cream market is estimated to reach a value of INR 313.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 17.3%.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

The first step in the ice cream manufacturing process is the preparation of an ice cream mix which can include different combinations of milk, cream, water, sweetener, coloring, and flavoring agents in an unfrozen stage. In modern manufacturing systems, the mix is then homogenized, standardized, and pasteurized. If required, small pieces of fruits and nuts are injected, and the mixture is stirred to incorporate air spaces and to prevent detectable ice crystals from forming. The semi-frozen ice cream is then extruded from the freezer and filled into different packaging containers. The packed ice cream is then hardened by a blast freezer at a temperature of minus 3 to minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the ice cream freezes in 8-12 hours. After hardening, the ice cream is ready for sale and can be stored in a deep freezer or walk-in freezer at a temperature between minus 23 and minus 29 degrees Celsius.

FUNDING SOURCE

Under the Work 4 Progress programme of the Development Alternatives Group, such enterprises have been financed by Sahiyogini Mahila Mandal (a Cluster Level Federation) through a micro-credit facility, with an average loan size of INR 40,000.