Sales freeze, ice cream makers feel Covid heat

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 24

The sale of ice-cream has nosedived amid the lockdown in wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. After remaining out of business during the peak season, ice cream manufacturers in the state are worried as sales are not picking up even now.

The manufacturers said their sales had declined up to 60 to 70 per cent in the current season and with hotels and palaces remaining closed and weddings and other functions becoming a low-key affair, their losses were mounting with every passing day.

They said apart from the lockdown, the spread of misinformation on social media platforms regarding consumption of ice cream had impacted their business prospects.

Talking to The Tribune, Kuldeep Jindal, president of the Ice Cream Manufacturers’ Association, Punjab, said, “The industry has suffered a big jolt this season. The losses can be pegged at crores of rupees.”

Amanpreet Singh, a wholesaler of ice cream in Ludhiana, said, “Two months of peak season are already gone. I have suffered huge losses as I could sell only 25 per cent of the total production from what was sold last season.”

“Losses could have been mitigated had rumour-mongers not spread misinformation. Media should spread the right information on consumption of ice cream else we will be doomed,” he added.

Naresh Kumar, an ice cream manufacturer in Bathinda, said, “With sales not picking up, the finished product is lying in cold storages now. If not sold on time, it may become uneatable.” There are more than 500 ice cream-manufacturing units in the state. There are around 12 ice cream makers in Bathinda, 15 in Patiala, 60 in Ludhiana and 10 in Jalandhar.