UK consumers are predicted to purchase 337 million litres of ice cream from retail channels this year and if youre a chocolate lover, then youre in luck – for the first time in eight years, there have been more new ice cream products launched with a chocolate flavour than any other.

Since 2007/2008, vanilla has been the top flavour in innovation, according to Mintels Global New Products Database. It peaked in popularity in 2013/2014, when as many as 34 per cent of all products were vanilla flavoured. However, its popularity has been steadily declining, and just 18 per cent of new products launched in 2015/2016 did so with a vanilla flavour.

Chocolate flavour, on the other hand, represented 22 per cent of all new ice cream products launched in the UK in the past 12 months. It has been gradually increasing in popularity over the last few years, up from 15 per cent of all UK new ice cream products in 2013/2014.

Caramel or caramelised flavours came in third most popular at 13 per cent, above strawberry at 12 per cent. Caramel flavour has more than doubled in popularity since 2011/2012 when it represented six per cent of all UK new ice cream products.

Alex Beckett, global food and drink analyst at Mintel, says the popularity of chocolate and caramel flavours represents the UKs love of indulgent treats.

Beckett says, "While health is a booming innovation trend in ice cream, with dairy- and sugar-free launches taking up more freezer space, some brands are going the opposite route and ramping up the indulgent factor. Hence more chocolate and caramel."

More chocolatey choices this summer is certainly good news for this chocoholic.