The EU's five biggest producers, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain were the other three, alongside Poland, to record an increase in production. With 607 million liters, Germany was the top producer of ice cream in the bloc but saw output fall by 1%. France, Italy, and Spain also saw a decrease in production during the same period.

Over 80% of Poland's ice cream production was exported to other European countries. Key markets are Germany, France, and the UK, in what is a booming consumption of Polish-produced ready-to-eat frozen goods.

A Cold Treat With Deep Roots
Poland's connection to ice cream originates from the 17th and 18th centuries, when nobility would retrieve stored outdoor cellar ice in order to make early frozen desserts (thought perhaps inspired by Italian gelato).

These early recipes became the basis for a generations-long tradition.

The popularity of mass-produced ice cream grew in Polish cities during the interwar period (1920s and 1930s), including selling under brands such as Pingwin by people on the street.

The treat prospered all through the communist years, with popular flavors such as Bambino and Calypso (soft-serve was also in regular production — "Italian ice cream," it's called locally even though that soft-serve style originated here), available everywhere.

Modern Success and Market Leaders
Polish ice cream, Polish production. Since the early 1990s, Polish ice cream has been produced by more and more local family-run businesses. Currently, they are the most popular brands (e.g, Koral, Grycan, Augusto) on the domestic market and have led to a significant increase in the export of those products worldwide.

With Polish ice cream becoming ever more popular both in Poland itself and across the rest of Europe, it is inspiring to see this traditional part of Potocki's culture blending with contemporary production methods while using only premium ingredients.

With such an outstanding 2024 haul, Poland is not only preserving its ice cream tradition but also helping guide Europe's developing frozen dessert market.