Where to get free scoops, discounts
Here’s the scoop: Sunday is National Ice Cream Day.
Many of us don’t need a special day to scream for ice cream, but back in 1984, President Reagan felt one was needed. Proclaiming July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day as well, he said, “Ice cream is a nutritious and healthy food enjoyed by over 90% of the population in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert- and snack food.”
Can’t argue with that. There is always room for ice cream. On average, we each eat about 20 pounds of ice cream annually, or about four gallons, according to the International Dairy Foods Association.
National ice cream month: We spend more on ice cream, but get less
In the US, we went on an ice cream spending spree during the 2020 pandemic year, with ice cream sales up 1[ads1]7%, to $8 billion, according to Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group, based on sales at grocery, drug, mass market and convenience stores. After a 6.7% decline in 2021, sales increased by 5% in 2022.
However, it looks like we’re treating ourselves again, as ice cream sales over the past 52 weeks rose 8% to $8.1 billion. % over that time period.
And we can now choose from seemingly endless flavor choices — Baskin Robbins, known for offering 31 flavors, has now created more than 1,400. Vanilla remains the favorite, at least when consumers buy ice cream by the bucket instead of the pint, according to 84.51°, a data-tracking firm. Next favourites: chocolate and Neapolitan. On the way up: Birthday cake flavored ice cream.
Another sign of vanilla dominance: Vanilla accounted for 30% of all ice cream purchases through Instacart, from June 2022 to May 2023, with it being the favorite flavor in 21 states. Chocolate is the favorite in 15 states.
Vanilla reigns supreme because of its versatility, Instacart trend expert Laurentia Romaniuk said in a statement accompanying the ice cream data. “The luscious vanilla flavor effortlessly enhances a variety of desserts, whether nestled in a chocolate sauce, paired a-la-mode with a slice of pie or cobbler, or simply enjoyed in its pure form with a delightful sprinkle on top,” she said.
Okay, now we’re officially craving ice cream. Here are all the deals, discounts and freebies to celebrate National Ice Cream Day and National Ice Cream Month.
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Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins has been celebrating National Ice Cream Month throughout July. Starting Sunday and running through July 22, get $5 off your purchase of $20 or more through DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates or with promo code SEIZETHEYAY on all BaskinRobbins.com or Baskin-Robbins app orders. In Baskin-Robbins stores, you can redeem the coupon that you can find in the app at the till. And mark your calendars for July 31, for the ice cream chain’s Celebrate 31 event when guests get 31% off all scoops (waffle cones, toppings and sundaes are excluded from the discount.)
Bubbie’s Mochi Ice Cream discounts and free ice cream in Miami
Bubbies Ice Cream, which wraps premium ice cream in a sweet mochi rice dough, has 6-packs for $4.99 (almost 30% off) on Saturday and Sunday at Sprouts and Whole Foods nationwide. Also on those days, you can get free mochi ice cream at the Bubbies Ice Cream Pop-up inside the Showfields Miami department store and in a street cart outside the store (12pm-7pm EST).
Also from July 20-26, buy a Bubbies 6-pack and get one free at any Publix store.
Carvel has $5 off National Ice Cream Day deliveries
Carvel has a special delivery deal for National Ice Cream Day on Sunday: Get $5 off any Carvel order of $25 or more at Carvel.com or from DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats. Valid in participating stores and while stocks last. Taxes and fees are not included.
Cold Stone Creamery
Through Thursday, July 20, members of the My Cold Stone Club Rewards loyalty program will receive surprise in-app offers when they place an order on ColdStoneCreamery.com or in the Cold Stone app. They will receive a code to be used at checkout.
To celebrate National Ice Cream Month, through the rest of July, My Cold Stone Club Rewards members can also get 99 cent delivery on orders of $20 or more placed online or in the app (when you place an order and select delivery, the 99-cent delivery fee will automatically be applied at checkout). Also through July 31st, any customer who purchases $25 in gift cards online will have a $5 bonus e-gift emailed to them.
Craig’s Veganice cream half-off pints online for National Ice Cream Day
Until Sunday, you can get 50% off all pints ordered online with the code ICECREAMDAY at checkout. Also available all summer: three vegan ice cream cakes, launched in celebration of National Ice Cream Cake Day on June 27. Flavors include Vegan Rainbow Explosion Cake, Sunset & Strawberry, and Kursten’s Peanut Butter Crunch.
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Dairy Queen has a deal on dipped cones for National Ice Cream Day
At Dairy Queen on Sunday, get $1 off all soft serve cones (except kids’ cones) through the DQ app. (You must download and register for DQ Rewards to activate the deal. (One deal per customer. Cannot be combined with other offers and may not be available for delivery or mobile ordering.)
Dippin’ Dots has National Ice Cream Day freebies and a delivery discount
Dippin’ Dots is giving away free servings of their original pearl ice cream at participating locations nationwide. You can also get a free mini cup of your favorite Dippin’ Dots flavor during a two-hour window on Sunday at participating locations. Giveaway locations can be found at www.dippindots.com/locator – contact your nearest location as each will have their own giveaway hours (one per customer).
Want Dippin’ Dots delivered? Get 20% off online orders on Sunday at www.dippindots.com using promo code NICD23.
DoorDash has a $5 off an ice cream cone and a $5 DashPass deal
DoorDash has $5 off the DashPass Jason Biggs Ice Cream Bundle ($14.99, Apple Strudel ice cream topped with crumbles and Peach with Chili Flakes sorbet) from DashMart on the DoorDash app (while supplies last). There are more than 25 DashMarts nationwide, including in Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dallas, Salt Lake City, the greater Phoenix area and Redwood City, CA.
Another deal gives you $5 off when you buy two products (mix and match) from various ice cream brands, including Talenti, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Popsicle, Magnum, Good Humor and Klondike. But you must subscribe to the DashPass service ($9.99/month or $96/year), which includes $0 delivery fees and other benefits. The offer is good through the last week of the Summer of DashPass (until July 19, in selected stores).
Friendly’s 88-cent ice cream deal starts Saturday for National Ice Cream Day
You can get 88-cent single scoop cones Saturday through Wednesday at Friendly’s. Also on Saturday, the first 88 people in the store will receive limited edition Friendly’s merchandise, a Happy Ending Sundae and Monster Mash tattoos for kids.
Happy Joe’s 99-cent ice cream deal on National Ice Cream Day
Happy Joe’s is celebrating National Ice Cream Day with 99-cent cones from Sunday, July 16 through July 30 (one per person).
River Street Sweets’ homemade ice cream samples
You always get free samples at this Savannah-based ice cream purveyor, which makes homemade ice cream and gelato on site at its Savannah flagship store and locations in Myrtle Beach, SC, Charleston, SC and Atlanta. The most popular flavors at River Street Sweets are Pralines N’ Cream and Chocolate, and Bear Claw Ice Cream made with chocolate turtle candy.
Salt & Straw’s Deal: Get a free pint of ice cream when you buy 3
For National Ice Cream Day, buy three pints and get one free on local delivery orders placed at saltandstraw.com.
During the month of July, you can also try the “Berries Berries Berries” flavors, available in scoop stores and shipped nationwide. Flavors include: Birthday Cake and Blackberry, Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero and GoNana’s Strawberry Caramel Banana Bread, a vegan ice cream.
Tillamook County Creamery is debuting three new flavors for National Ice Cream Day
Try out three new limited edition flavors from Tillamook available now:
- Neapolitan: This version of the classic three-flavored treat includes Oregon Strawberry with real strawberry chunks, chocolate ice cream with chocolate ripples, plus old-fashioned vanilla.
- Orange and cream: Orange and sweet cream ice cream come together in this flavor.
- Campfire Peanut Butter Cup: Toasted marshmallow ice cream with fudge swirls and miniature chocolate peanut butter cups.
Whole Foods Annual Frozen Treats Sale – Up to 35% Off Ice Cream
Whole Foods Market is celebrating National Ice Cream Day with its annual sale on frozen treats. That means through Tuesday, July 18, Amazon Prime members can get 35% off — non-Prime customers get 27% off — on all ice cream and frozen treats including 365 from Whole Foods Market Organic Ice Cream Sandwiches, the new Van Leeuwen Black Cherry Chip French ice cream, and KIND Chocolate Cherry Almond & Nut Frozen treat bars. (Prices vary and some restrictions apply.)
Yogurtland
Members of Yogurtland’s Real Rewards loyalty program get double points on Sunday for any purchase in stores or online. Allow up to 24 hours before reward points can be used.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
