Commercial Soft Serve Machine Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Premium and Mass), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), By Application (Entertainment & Recreational Spaces, Catering & Restaurant Industry, Ice Cream Parlors, Supermarkets, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Commercial soft serve machines are used for the easy serving and dispensing of ice creams. Rising desire for indulgence, increasing social media influence, and impulse purchases due to several factors are all augmenting the product adoption across commercial facilities. The consumption of soft ice cream is prominently driven by innovation in flavors and impulsive purchases.

Urbanization and rising IT sector jobs in cities have likely led the entertainment venues and supermarkets to remain packed during the holidays. Increased disposable income, and purchasing power are further boosting the spending capacity on foods and beverages. Ice cream consumption has increased among all age groups primarily driven by the growing preference for sweet indulgence. For instance, according to the International Dairy Foods Association, the ice cream makers have churned out about 1.38 billion gallons of ice cream in the U.S. alone in 2022. Soft serve machines are gaining wide usage across commercial facilities including retail stores, supermarkets, ice cream parlors, entertainment venues, and restaurants.

Expanding fan base for soft ice creams, impulse purchasing behavior at commercial spaces, and rising temperatures across geographic locations are influencing the growth of soft serve machines. Rising urbanization levels and higher urban incomes are changing consumption patterns spurring the investment for supermarkets and entertainment venues. Government policies and supportive investments are all boosting the commercial real estate landscape fuelled by economic growth. For instance, according to the National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency India, the commercial real estate has attracted an investment of about USD 1.7 billion as of 2023. Several manufacturing companies are further focusing on developing customized machines with enhanced operational efficiency.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the market for commercial soft-serve machines due to temporary lockdowns and supply chain disruption across several geographical locations.

The government spending on commercial and non-residential properties is further subjected to boost the footfalls in recreational spaces, malls, and supermarkets. For instance, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of the U.S., commercial construction spending amounted to about USD 135.82 billion in December 2023. Consumers intend to increasingly spend on discretionary categories owing to rising entertainment spaces and high disposable income in developed and emerging economies. All these factors are slated to boost the demand for soft serve machines in commercial spaces.

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Micro Macro Economic Indicators


• Drivers, Restraints, Trends, and Opportunities


• Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Commercial Soft Serve Machine Market


• Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players

Segmentation

Analysis by Application

By application, the commercial soft serve machine market has been classified into entertainment venue, catering industry, ice cream parlors, supermarkets, and others. The others segment includes office canteens and quick service restaurants.

The ice cream parlors segment is set to dominate the market during the forecast period. Versatile and user-friendly soft serve machines are gaining traction in ice cream parlors or specialty stores across various regions. Fast-expanding chains and consumer demand for experiential moments and affordable treats are further leading to a robust product demand. Consumer preference for experiential dining, growing popularity over social media platforms, and shifting consumer spending habits are a few of the factors boosting the segment growth.

Regional Analysis

The global commercial soft serve machine market is divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, Europe, and South America.

Europe leads the global market over the forecast period. The increasing popularity of fast food chains, rising demand for low-fat ice creams, and mounting per capita income have all boosted the sales of soft-serve ice cream across the region. The rising presence and penetration of ice cream parlors, trucks, and vans positively influence the market growth in Europe. Changing weather conditions and younger generations exhibiting impulse buying behaviors are further boosting the demand for soft-serve machines in developing and emerging economies.

Distribution of the Commercial Soft Serve Machine Market, By Region of Origin:

• North America – 29%


• South America – 5%


• Europe – 36%


• The Middle East & Africa – 3%


• Asia Pacific –27%

Key Players Covered

The key players in the market include Carpigiani Group, Donper USA, The Vollrath Company LLC, ICETRO AMERICA Inc., Spaceman Ice Systems Co. Ltd., Electro Freeze, and The Middleby Corporation.

Key Industry Developments

• January 2022: Carpigiani, an Ali Group Company, introduced its soft serve and shake combo machine for high-volume ice cream production. The model UF920 finds its diverse application in ice cream parlors and quick service restaurants.


• February 2018: Carpigiani launched a compact soft-serve machine. The model 161 G and 161 G SP has been claimed to be capable of achieving a 42-day cleaning cycle for several applications such as restaurants, recreational spaces, and others.