Mumbai — Unseasonal rainfall and unexpectedly mild temperatures across several parts of India have taken a toll on ice cream sales during May—traditionally the hottest and most lucrative month for the industry. Leading manufacturers report a dip in demand of up to 10 percent, with the southern and western regions experiencing the sharpest declines.
“The season started strong across our summer-centric categories,” said Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy. “April 2025 delivered encouraging numbers. However, weather anomalies from late April into May have slightly dampened our momentum. We’ve adjusted our summer growth projections downward by about 10 percent.”
Bandlish emphasized that such seasonal variations are not uncommon in the ice cream business. “We are operationally prepared to respond to both extremes—intense heat and cooler weather. While May has been challenging, we remain optimistic about the remainder of the year.”
The erratic weather has also posed difficulties for ice cream franchise leaders like Baskin Robbins. “It feels like we skipped straight to the monsoon,” said Mohit Khattar, CEO of Gravis Foods, which manages Baskin Robbins in India. “May is typically one of our strongest months, but cooler temperatures and rain have impacted consumer sentiment and demand. We’re monitoring the situation closely and adjusting with our partners.”
The changing climate has also affected retail activity, with reduced foot traffic in ice cream parlors. Siddhant Kamath, Director at Naturals Ice Cream, noted, “Rainy weekends mean fewer store visitors, and that reflects in sales. Still, Mother’s Day helped us maintain strong performance, with over 20 percent year-on-year growth.”
Indeed, celebratory events like Mother’s Day have offered some relief to manufacturers. Naturals reported its highest-ever daily sales on the occasion, moving 40 tons of ice cream in a single day. “Such events balance the weather setbacks. We expect momentum to pick up again in early June before schools reopen,” Kamath said.
K. Rathnam, CEO of Milky Mist, echoed the sentiment that the impact is mostly temporary. “In southern India, temperatures continue to hover above 30°C. Demand rebounds quickly after brief rainy spells, keeping ice cream consumption fairly steady year-round.”
Despite the current headwinds, industry leaders remain confident. “We could see a hotter period later this year, which may offer a strong rebound opportunity,” Khattar added. “We’re recalibrating production and inventory in response to this shift and staying cautiously optimistic.”
As ice cream franchise opportunities continue to grow in India, the industry’s resilience amid climate unpredictability remains a key factor in long-term success.
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