India’s Ice Cream Scene: A Scoop of Joy

Ice cream is more than just a dessert in India—it's a sweet memory, a childhood favorite, and a symbol of joy. From Amul to Naturals, India’s ice cream brands are a delicious blend of tradition, innovation, and nostalgia. Amul is the market leader in the ice cream segment, followed by Unilever’s Kwality Wall’s. Let’s take a scoop into the world of Indian ice cream brands that are serving up joy, one cone at a time.

1. Amul – The Cool Champion

Amul is more than just an ice cream brand—it's a national icon. Founded in 1946 in Anand, Gujarat, by Tribhuvandas Patel, it was India’s first dairy cooperative and a revolution in empowering farmers. Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution, helped scale it into a national favorite. Known for its classic, creamy, and affordable ice creams, Amul is a must-have in every Indian home.

1. Mother Dairy – The Government’s Sweet Gift

Mother Dairy is a Government of India initiative under the NDDB, launched in 1974 as part of Operation Flood to help organize the urban distribution of milk and provide a fair return to milk producers. With a strong presence in Delhi and other northern states, it’s a trusted name in Indian kitchens. as a key initiative under Operation Flood

1. Arun – The South’s Ice Cream King

Arun, launched in 1970, is a leading ice cream brand in South India, owned by Hatsun Agro Product Ltd. from Chennai. It has built a loyal following in Tamil Nadu and beyond, offering a wide range of flavors and quality that’s hard to beat.

1. Vadilal – The Oldest Ice Cream Legacy

Vadilal is India’s oldest ice cream brand, with roots dating back to 1907. Started by Vadilal Gandhi in Ahmedabad, it opened its first ice cream parlor in 1926. Vadilal Industries Ltd. is a multinational Indian brand known for its classic flavors and premium quality.

1. Cream Bell – The French Touch, Indian Soul

Cream Bell is a popular ice cream brand under Devyani Food Industries (RJ Corp). Launched in 2003, it was created in technical collaboration with the French dairy giant, Candia. Now independently run, it’s known for its smooth textures and rich flavors.

1. Milky Mist – More Than Just Ice Cream

Milky Mist is a dairy brand from Erode, Tamil Nadu, launched in 1997. While it’s famous for paneer and yogurt, it also offers high-quality ice cream. The brand is known for its commitment to quality and innovation in dairy products.

1. Hocco – The New Kids on the Block

Hocco is the new ice cream venture of the Chona family, the same family behind Havmor. Its parent company is the House of Chonas Collaborative (HOCCO), an Indian entity focused on the food service business after selling their stake in Havmor ice cream to Lotte in 2017.It was launched in 2023, after the non-compete clause with Lotte expired. It’s a fresh entry in the frozen dessert space, bringing new flavors and a modern twist.

1. Dinshaw – The Heart of Central India

Dinshaw is a historic and regionally dominant ice cream and dairy brand primarily operating in Central India. Its parent company is Dinshaw's Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd., an Indian company. The brand traces its roots back to 1932 when brothers Dinshaw and Erachshaw Rana started a small dairy operation in Nagpur, which grew from selling fresh milk and hand-churned ice cream to becoming a large, integrated dairy operation.

1. Top’N Town – The Bhopal Favorite

Top’N Town is a beloved ice cream brand from Bhopal, launched in 1970 by late Shri Balchand Kukreja. It’s a regional powerhouse with a wide network of outlets and a loyal customer base. Known for its diverse flavours and quality, it’s a Central India favourite.

1. Nirula’s – Delhi’s Ice Cream Legend

It’s a nostalgic favorite for Delhiites and beyond. Nirula’s is an iconic ice cream brand originally founded by an Indian company in Delhi in 1934 and gained legendary status in Delhi-NCR, particularly from 1977 when it launched the city’s first organized fast-food joint. Known for its Hot Chocolate Fudge (HCF) and Big Boy Burger, it was acquired by Malaysia based Navis Capital in 2006 and then acquired by A2Z Excursions Pvt. Ltd an Indian company in 2012.

1. Naturals – The Pure Natural Choice

Naturals is a highly popular ice cream brand renowned for its authentic fruit flavors, whose parent company is Kamaths Ourtimes Ice Creams Pvt. Ltd., an entirely Indian entity. The brand was founded by Raghunandan Srinivas Kamath and opened its first store in Juhu, Mumbai, in 1984. Naturals pioneered the "natural" segment by using only three ingredients—milk, sugar, and real fruits—and famously avoiding stabilizers, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

1. Giani’s – Delhi’s Sweet Legacy

Giani's is a historic and popular ice cream and dessert brand with its roots deeply embedded in Delhi's culinary history. The parent entity, Giani Ice Cream, is an Indian family-run business. The brand's journey began in 1956 when Giani Gurcharan Singh, a traditional sweetmeat maker, set up his shop named 'Giani-di-Hatti' in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, serving famous rabri-faluda and mango shakes. It’s expansion into a modern franchise chain of ice cream stores began in 1999.

1. NIC – The Natural Ice Cream Choice

NIC’s parent company is Walko Food Company Private Limited, an Indian food processing company. The NIC brand was incepted in 2015 with a focus on tapping the natural ice creams market by offering ice cream made with pure milk and 100% natural ingredients, without artificial colours or preservatives.

FOREIGN BRANDS

1. Kwality Walls – The Global-Local Hybrid

Kwality Wall's is a frozen desserts brand a subsidiary of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), part of British multinational giant Unilever. The brand is an amalgamation of two previous entities: the Indian Kwality company (founded 1956) and Unilever's global Wall's brand. The combined Kwality Wall's brand was launched in India in 1995.

1. Baskin Robbins – The Global Icon in India

Baskin Robbins, the US-based ice cream giant, entered India in 1993 through a joint venture with the Indian, Graviss Group. In 2007, the Graviss Group became the 100% owner of the Baskin Robbins brand in the SAARC region under a franchise agreement and now pays royalty to the US based company.

1. Havmor – The Ahmedabad Cool Classic

Havmor is a popular ice cream brand that originated in India in 1944 when Satish Chona started his journey in Karachi. Following the partition and a move to Ahmedabad, it grew into a strong regional player. The brand's 100% stake in the ice cream business was acquired in 2017 by LOTTE Wellfood Co. Ltd., a major food giant from South Korea.