Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing
Description
Establishments classified under this code are primarily responsible for the production of frozen dairy products and sweet treats, including ice cream, frozen yogurts, sherbets, and specialized items like frozen tofu. These facilities transform raw agricultural ingredients into high-quality frozen desserts, ensuring that the final products maintain safety standards and consumer appeal. Typical business activities involve extensive processing steps such as pasteurization, homogenization, and freezing, often followed by packaging and distribution to retailers. The sector includes a wide range of operators, from massive industrial factories serving national chains to small artisanal shops producing gourmet flavors for local markets. Some larger entities also extend their operations to include retail stores within their premises. The scale of these operations varies significantly, yet all share the common goal of manufacturing frozen desserts excluding those made in bakery settings. This industry plays a vital role in the food sector by providing essential cold treats during warmer months and serving as a key supplier for restaurants and convenience stores.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 311 | Food Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Food Manufacturing subsector transform livestock and agricultural products into products for intermediate or final consumption. The industry groups are distinguished by the raw materials (generally of animal or vegetable origin) processed into food products. The food products manufactured in these establishments are typically sold to wholesalers or retailers for distribution to consumers, but establishments primarily engaged in retailing bakery and candy products made on the premises not for immediate consumption are included. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing beverages are classified in Subsector 312, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing. |
| 3115 | Dairy Product Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments that manufacture dairy products from raw milk, processed milk, and dairy substitutes (except butter substitutes). |
| 31152 | Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 311520. |
| 311520 | Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | Establishments classified under this code are primarily responsible for the production of frozen dairy products and sweet treats, including ice cream, frozen yogurts, sherbets, and specialized items like frozen tofu. These facilities transform raw agricultural ingredients into high-quality frozen desserts, ensuring that the final products maintain safety standards and consumer appeal. Typical business activities involve extensive processing steps such as pasteurization, homogenization, and freezing, often followed by packaging and distribution to retailers. The sector includes a wide range of operators, from massive industrial factories serving national chains to small artisanal shops producing gourmet flavors for local markets. Some larger entities also extend their operations to include retail stores within their premises. The scale of these operations varies significantly, yet all share the common goal of manufacturing frozen desserts excluding those made in bakery settings. This industry plays a vital role in the food sector by providing essential cold treats during warmer months and serving as a key supplier for restaurants and convenience stores. |
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Classification References
- 01Manufacturing frozen bakery products--are classified in U.S. Industry 311813, Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing; and
- 02Manufacturing ice cream and ice milk mixes--are classified in U.S. Industry 311514, Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing.
Index Items
Custard, frozen, manufacturing
Desserts, frozen (except bakery), manufacturing
Frozen custard manufacturing
Frozen dairy product substitutes manufacturing
Frozen desserts (except bakery) manufacturing
Fruit pops, frozen, manufacturing
Ice cream manufacturing
Ice cream specialties manufacturing
Ice milk manufacturing
Ice milk specialties manufacturing
Ices, flavored sherbets, manufacturing
Juice pops, frozen, manufacturing
Nondairy frozen desserts (except bakery) manufacturing
Nondairy frozen yogurt manufacturing
Nondairy ice cream manufacturing
Pudding pops, frozen, manufacturing
Sherbets manufacturing
Tofu frozen desserts manufacturing
Yogurt, frozen, manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Item.com's Warehouse Management System optimizes storage for perishable ice cream products by managing strict temperature zones to prevent spoilage during the manufacturing cycle.
The Order Management System streamlines demand forecasting and route planning for frozen desserts that require rapid delivery to maintain product quality and prevent melting.
By analyzing sales patterns and production costs, Data Intelligence provides real-time insights into inventory levels, allowing manufacturers to adjust production schedules and reduce waste from expired stock.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 311520.
Ice Cream America
Industry association providing news, research, and advocacy for ice cream manufacturers.
USDA Ice Cream Fact Sheets
Government publication offering detailed data on production statistics, market trends, and consumer behavior.
Ice Cream Manufacturers Association
Organization representing the ice cream manufacturing industry with resources for members and industry updates.
