The high-sales season for ice cream in Finland actually starts in the dead of winter, in January, and runs through the end of August.
There are two large ice cream producers in the country, both foreign-owned, as well as several smaller ones. And, some are already working double shifts to keep up with demand.
Consumers are loyal to national brands with locally-produced ingredients and not least of all to what might be called national tastes, such as a fondness for cold liquorice-flavoured frozen treats. Imports have a hard time competing.
However, new taxes on sweets have put a significant dent in sales, which are current down by about 20% from their peak. While slipping a bit in world ratings, the Finns are still the third largest consumers of ice cream in the world, after the Americans and Australians.
And, as soon as the weather gets just a little bit warmer, around 500 ice cream street kiosks will again be open, although business is unlikely to be as brisk as in the past.
