(Yicai Global) Dec. 7 -- Ice cream is gradually "conquering" Chinese consumers' stomachs. In the first 10 months of this year, the total amount of China's ice cream market reached nearly CNY120 billion (USD18.1 billion), and 451,420 tons of ice creams were sold, the Paper reported, quoting the organizing committee of the 2018 China Ice Cream Cold Food Exhibition and China Frozen Foods Exhibition.

The national frozen food industry including ice cream has a market size of more than CNY800 billion, and between 2014 and 2017, Chinese consumption of ice-cream and frozen foods grew at an annual rate of 16.27 percent.

The US is the world's largest producer of ice cream and frozen food with high per capita consumptions. The annual output of the products reach 24 million tons and per capita consumption are more than 65 kilograms. Europe's has an annual frozen food consumption of over 13.5 million, with per capita annual consumption reaching 50 kilograms.

In contrast, China's ice cream and frozen food industry started in the 1950s and the 1960s, mainly with popsicles, ice cream, seafood and meat. The 1980s marked the development of frozen rice and flour products as well as other modulated food. In the 1990s and the 2000s, the fridge entered the ordinary household life and the industry began to grow rapidly. After 2010, with the upgrade of consumption and improvement of cold chain storage and transportation, China's ice cream and frozen food industry has entered a stage of rapid growth.

"This is the best time for ice cream," believes Wang haining, chairman of China Frozen Foods Exhibition Organizing Committee. The Chinese people's love and great demand for ice cream drives such professional ice cream exhibitions," Wang says.

The 2016 Spring Ice Cream Show held at the old Beijing National Exhibition Center last March was hailed as one of "the largest ice cream cold show in Asia and Eastern Europe." Two years on, the 2018 Spring Ice Cream Show will be held in Jan. 12 to Jan. 14.

In response to the question of why the ice cream show is held in chilly winter, Wang explains that the period from March to September is the peak season for ice cream. And in January, "the dealers' cold storage is empty, while their wallets are full." During that time, ice cream enterprises with influential branding and original research and development capabilities already develop their new products for 2018. In January, they will meet and make orders, and rest in February for the Chinese New Year. While after March 2, the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year, the dealers can quickly deliver ice cream across the country.

So much so that even an award for any institutions or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Chinese ice cream frozen food industry, namely, 'The Golden Spoon Award' will also be presented at the 2018 Spring Ice Cream Show and the award ceremony will be held annually in the future.