Dive Brief:
- Dippin’ Dots’ signature beaded ice cream is entering the grocery freezer aisle for the first time this spring, with the brand telling Food Dive the move “represents a meaningful expansion” beyond theme parks and movie theaters.
- The ice creams are available nationwide in three of the brand’s most popular flavors: Cookies ’N Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Ultimate Brownie Batter. Other flavors are expected in 2027.
- Brand owner J&J Snack Foods brought Dippin’ Dots into grocery stores in January 2025 with sundaes, which had sauce and ice cream, along with the cardboard packaging, to act as an insulator to prevent or minimize clumping. This latest offering allows the brand to bring the traditional Dippin’ Dots experience to “everyday, at-home occasions,” a spokesperson said.
Dive Insight:
For much of its existence, Dippin’ Dots was sold at outdoor fairs, sporting events and amusement parks. In recent years, J&J expanded the ice cream’s presence in movie theaters and deepened its exposure in convenience stores with the installation of ultra-cold freezers.
But getting the ice cream into grocery stores and retailers has proven to be more challenging.
Dippin’ Dots must be kept at minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the frozen beads to keep their shape and avoid clumping. The average store freezer is typically set at 0 degrees.
J&J was able to find a workable solution with the sundae format, but bringing its signature beaded ice cream proved to be the ultimate goal. The brand, which has been working on this launch since 2024, said it was able to solve the challenge through a “slight reformulation.”
Selling traditional Dippin’ Dots at grocery stores will allow the brand to drive household penetration, increase frequency and build a more balanced omnichannel presence, the brand said in an email. Because the treat can now be eaten at home for occasions like a late-night snack or a party, consumers will be able to enjoy Dippin’ Dots more often instead of only at entertainment venues.
“Ultimately, it’s about making the brand more accessible, more versatile, and more relevant in consumers’ daily lives,” Dippin’ Dots said. “With this innovation, we’re unlocking incremental opportunities to enjoy Dippin’ Dots by being available at home.”
Dippin’ Dots told Food Dive it still continues to grow in the out-of-home format. The brand posted sales of at least $100 million for the fiscal 2025 year ended in September.
