When outdoor temperatures climb and Americans look for ways to beat the heat, few things are as universally beloved—or as deeply ingrained in our culture—as a classic, sweet, frosty scoop of ice cream. It is the quintessential comfort food and the ultimate refresher rolled into one, bringing people together everywhere from bustling neighborhood scoop shops to quiet backyard family gatherings.
But this frozen treat is much more than just a social staple; it’s a serious economic engine. Ice cream is a major segment of dairy manufacturing, which contributes significantly to overall U.S. food and beverage output. In fact, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the ice cream industry supports more than 26,000 direct jobs and pumps a staggering $11.6 billion into the national economy each year.
Yet across the country, consumer preferences are far from uniform. Researchers at Trace One—a product lifecycle management and regulatory compliance software provider serving food and beverage, retail, cosmetics, and chemical manufacturers—analyzed Google Trends search data to track which ice cream brands garner the highest search interest across all 50 states, highlighting how brand loyalty shifts across state lines—from dominant regional dairies to iconic nationwide names.
Here are the key takeaways from the analysis:
Ice cream searches are highly seasonal, typically peaking in July. Google Trends data shows Americans’ interest in ice cream surges during the summer, with year-round search interest also increasing in recent years.
Blue Bell dominates the national ice cream landscape. The Texas-based ice cream maker is the most-searched national ice cream brand, followed by Baskin-Robbins and Ben & Jerry's.
Blue Bell leads 22 states, while Ben & Jerry's and Tillamook follow with 9 and 8 states, respectively. Other national brands claiming the most search traffic within individual states include Baskin-Robbins, Turkey Hill, Halo Top, and Breyers.
Locals prefer homegrown scoops. When considering regional ice cream brands, in 21 different states, the top brand is one that operates physical scoop shops exclusively within its home state's borders.
America's Seasonal Taste for Ice Cream
Interest in ice cream in the U.S. is highly seasonal, usually peaking in July
Source: Trace One analysis of Google Trends data
According to Google Trends data, search interest for ice cream—ice cream-related searches as a proportion of total searches—is highly seasonal, with major spikes taking place during warmer months and usually hitting a peak in July. But year-round search interest has also increased in recent years, despite U.S. consumer ice cream preferences shifting towards healthier, simpler ingredients and GLP-1 users reportedly reducing their ice cream intake.
One reason for this growth in search volume may be that consumers today have more options than ever to enjoy, as a greater variety of products enter the market. Whether it’s premium ingredients, non-dairy options, organic and sustainable dairy, or just new frozen treats, ice cream lovers have far more options to explore today than in years past.
Top Ice Cream-Related Searches
Americans seek out both local and national brands
Source: Trace One analysis of Google Trends data
Consumers find ways to enjoy ice cream both at home and out at their favorite local ice cream shops, parlors, and creameries. In fact, many leading national ice cream brands are decades old—or older—and got their start as small, local operations. Brands like Tillamook in Oregon, Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont, and Blue Bell in Texas are all still closely associated with the locations where they originated, even as their distribution has expanded nationwide. However, because most of these national producers do not have a large number of their own stores, the market for ice cream leaves plenty of room for local shops to help consumers get their fix.
Top National Ice Cream Brands by State
Blue Bell is the most searched national ice cream brand in 22 states
Source: Trace One analysis of Google Trends data
Across the U.S., one ice cream brand stands out for its national appeal: Blue Bell. Although the Texas-based company did not expand beyond its home state until the 1980s, Blue Bell has become one of the top brands in the U.S. in the decades since. Out of the most popular national brands, Blue Bell is the most-searched in 22 states, mostly in the South and Midwest. This is more than the next two most-searched brands, Ben & Jerry's (9) and Tillamook (8), combined.
While Baskin-Robbins finds popularity in select areas of the West and Midwest, Tillamook's appeal is mostly concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, near its Oregon headquarters. Ben & Jerry's, headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, holds the honor of the most searched national ice cream brand across all six New England states. Similarly, Breyers, based in New Jersey, leads in popularity in nearby New York, while Turkey Hill, located in Pennsylvania, is the top national brand in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. Notably, Halo Top—founded in Los Angeles, California—ranks as the most searched national ice cream brand in North Dakota and Wyoming.
When considering regional ice cream brands, a distinct trend emerges: in 21 different states, the top brand is one that operates physical scoop shops exclusively within that single state's borders. Rather than larger multi-state chains dominating local search interest in these markets, residents show a strong preference for supporting homegrown brands. For instance, Washington's clear favorite is Seattle’s Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream, Maine rallies behind Gifford's Ice Cream, and Colorado gravitates toward Denver’s Little Man Ice Cream Company—with similar single-state operators like Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream in Hawaii and Sebastian Joe's in Minnesota leading the pack in their respective home states.
In contrast, a select group of larger regional chains manages to cross state lines and capture the top spot across broader geographic territories. Oklahoma-headquartered Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy serves as a prime example, leading search interest for regional ice cream brands across a multi-state footprint that includes Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Similarly, established names like Jeni's Ice Creams and Handel's Homemade Ice Cream lead in popularity across several states in the South and West, respectively.
Here is a summary of the data for Oregon:
Most popular national brand: Tillamook
Most popular regional brand: Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
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