Updated

Updated · San Mateo Daily Journal · Jul 7

Countertop Ice Cream Makers Boom in $3.8 Billion Market as Protein Recipes Go Viral

Updated

Updated · San Mateo Daily Journal · Jul 7

Countertop Ice Cream Makers Boom in $3.8 Billion Market as Protein Recipes Go Viral

Q: How are new weight-loss drugs unexpectedly fueling the billion-dollar boom in home ice cream makers?

New GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are helping drive home ice cream maker sales by pushing users toward high-protein, lower-sugar foods that are easier to customize at home than to buy ready-made. People taking GLP-1 drugs typically eat less overall and are advised to prioritize protein to help preserve muscle while losing weight. They also tend to cut back on sugar, refined carbs and heavily processed foods, while increasing purchases of protein products such as yogurt, shakes and lean dairy. That creates a practical problem: how to make protein intake appealing when appetite is reduced and rich, sugary foods can feel less tolerable. Machines such as the Ninja Creami solve that problem. They let users turn protein powder, Greek yogurt, milk, fruit or cottage cheese into a frozen dessert that fits GLP-1-friendly eating patterns: high protein, lower sugar, portion-controlled and customizable for dairy-free, keto or low-fat needs. A homemade pint can deliver roughly 15 to 30 grams of protein for about $2 to $3, well below the $5 to $8 often charged for store-bought “healthy” ice cream. The effect is broader than GLP-1 users alone, because it overlaps with a wider protein boom in the U.S. But the medications are accelerating the shift by changing what many consumers want from snacks and desserts. Instead of traditional ice cream, they are looking for nutrient-dense, controlled-ingredient treats, and countertop ice cream makers have become an easy way to produce them at home.

2 articles · Updated · San Mateo Daily Journal · Jul 7

$3.8 billion in global sales last year has turned countertop ice cream makers into a fast-growing kitchen category, with U.S. demand driven by homemade high-protein frozen treats.
71% of Americans say they consciously seek protein daily, and TikTok-friendly recipes promising about 30 grams per pint are pushing machines like the Ninja Creami into the mainstream.
Ninja’s 2022 launch helped revive the niche by letting users freeze ingredients first, then shave them into ice cream, sorbet or gelato in small, customizable batches.
Lower prices and ingredient savings are widening appeal: the Ninja Creami hit record-low pricing in January, while homemade protein ice cream runs about $2-$3 a pint versus $5-$8 for store-bought healthy brands.
The shift is broadening beyond the U.S., with John Lewis reporting a 17% rise in ice cream machine purchases last year and forecasting more social-media-led gains.