British families are facing sharply higher prices for ice-cream this summer, with parents spending an average of £50 per child over the six-week school holidays, according to a survey of 2,000 parents commissioned by Aldi. The rising cost reflects broader pressures across the supply chain, as milk and chocolate are among the foods most affected by climate change, while diesel and electricity price rises have increased the cost of running refrigerated vans.

The average 99 now costs £2.65, though prices vary considerably: one vendor near the British Museum in London reportedly charges £7 for a single scoop with a Flake, while a Zable survey of 33 seaside resorts found a cone in Porthmadog, north Wales, costing £3.85 compared with £1.95 in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire. An Ice Cream Alliance spokesperson said "almost every part of serving a 99 has become more expensive," with a recent Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit report identifying milk and chocolate among the five most climate-impacted foods.