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Ice Cream Trial in Pubs

Impulse Ice Cream Trial in UK Pubs

Background: Testing Impulse Ice Cream in the Foodservice Channel

A global FMCG company identified pubs and bars as a promising new channel to grow impulse ice cream sales. However, they lacked insight into likely demand from pub customers, the operational realities for pubs, and the potential revenue benefit.

The client needed to trial an impulse ice cream offer in a sample of pubs to assess the size of the prize and determine the right customer proposition and messaging to secure pub owners’ interest. The trial also provided real-world examples to support internal planning and credibility when marketing to pubs in future.

Ice Cream Trial in Pubs

Service: Market Analysis; Proposition Development
Sector: Consumer Goods

Approach: Product Trial and Data Analysis

To answer this question, we designed and executed a four-week trial across six pubs, representing a range of pub types and regions. Each participating pub received:

  • A freezer for product storage
  • Point-of-sale materials to drive impulse purchases
  • An initial stock of the client’s ice cream products

We tracked weekly sales data, conducted interviews with pub owners and staff, and visited the pubs to observe operations and gather direct customer feedback.

Our analysis focused on:

  • Revenue opportunity and sales performance by pub type
  • Best-selling products and peak sales times
  • Operational challenges and feedback from pub owners
  • Customer reactions and purchase drivers

Outcome: Data-Driven Recommendations from Real-World Trial Findings

The trial demonstrated that impulse ice cream can present a meaningful revenue opportunity for both pubs and our client. Key findings included:

  • Identification of factors driving higher demand, supporting targeted pub recruitment
  • Insights into the most attractive product range and optimal pricing
  • Recommendations on merchandising and messaging to maximise sales
  • Operational learnings to streamline future rollouts

Armed with these insights, our client was able to make an informed decision about scaling the opportunity, supported by product trialling results and analysis.

Why Choose Us for B2B Product Trialling?

Our recognition as a top management consultancy within the Consumer Goods & Retail sector by the Financial Times and legacy of B2B research expertise demonstrate our ability to support the most pressing business challenges faced by Consumer Goods firms.

Our client launched an impulse ice cream in pubs offer the year after completing this trial

The project we conducted was instrumental in securing the involvement of a large foodservice partner

Get in touch with Jon to see how White Space Strategy can help you test and develop products and propositions in the market




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