The prices of some of the most popular ice creams and ice lollies in the UK have soared over the past two years as the industry grapples with high energy and transportation costs.

According to the latest research from consumer watchdog Which?, four-packs of Rowntree’s watermelon lollies and Fruit Pastilles lollies have risen 22% in price in the past two years, to £2.03 and £2 respectively, while a six pack of Fab strawberry fruity lollies ice cream is now up 23% to £2.43, and four Feast chocolate ice creams cost £3.11, an increase of 29%.

Meanwhile, three Solero Exotic ice cream lollies and a six-pack of Cornetto classic cones are both up 35% to £2.75 and £3.48 respectively, while the biggest price hike was found on Cornetto strawberry ice cream cones, up 38% to £3.55.

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However, a three-pack of Magnum double gold caramel billionaire ice creams was found to have gone down in price by 2% to £3.63.

All prices were averages across the major supermarkets where the products were available in the two months to 8 July 2024, when compared with the same period two years earlier.

It comes amid a rise in transportation costs and higher prices in raw ingredients such as milk and sugar.

As a result, Which? found that shoppers are increasingly switching to own-label rather than branded ice creams.

A panel of 69 people who blind-tasted and rated Solero Exotic Ice Cream Lollies alongside supermarket lollies found Aldi’s Gianni’s Tropico Exotic Fruit Lollies to be the most popular with a score of 76%, followed by Asda’s Tropical Ice Creams, and Lidl’s Gelatelli Exotic Fruit ice creams.

Other remaining supermarket contenders, including Tesco Tropical Ice Creams and Morrisons Tropical Swirls ice creams ranked slightly lower with 72% and 71%, respectively, while Solero came last overall, with a score of 70%.

A spokesperson for Unilever, which makes Cornetto, Feast, Magnum and Solero told The Guardian: “We are committed to using the highest-quality ingredients for our ice-cream products and regularly review our ranges to ensure we continue to offer choice, superior quality and value to our shoppers by offering a range of product sizes to suit different shopper preferences, needs and budgets.

“The retail price of our products is always at the sole discretion of the retailer and we, like all manufacturers, only provide a recommended retail price.”