The boom of plant-based ice cream

Plant-based product finder

Plant-based ice cream is a growing category. It fits consumers’ desire to enjoy products that are delicious, good for them and good for the planet. Discover inspiring launches and NPD strategies, and dream about your next plant-based creations with our delicious vegan and dairy-free products.

Traditionally driven by indulgence, the ice cream category experienced an unexpected surge in better-for-you options. In the US, Halo Top disrupted the category by proposing low-calorie, high-protein frozen desserts that consumers could eat in one sitting without feeling guilty. Soon after, other brands entered this niche by launching non-dairy / dairy-free options. This growth opportunity reached Western Europe, where launches of dairy-free ice creams increased 4 folds between 2014 and 2018 (Source: Innova 2019). The Western European dairy-free ice cream market represents 135m€ in retail value in 2019 and is expected to grow +12.6% CAGR 2019-2024 (Source: Innova 2019). Italy, Sweden and the UK are the top 3 countries.

Learn more about the vegan/dairy-free trend

Interested in entering this market?

Discover how ice cream companies are positioning their ice cream products and get inspired:

Indulgent products that just happen to be dairy-free
Better-for-you treats

1 - Indulgence, now without dairy

Whether on a vegan diet or not, consumers eat ice cream as a treat, and taste is the key purchase driver. Ice cream brands understood this well and widened their consumer base by launching plant-based indulgent ice creams. Taste is the key reason consumers buy these ice cream products, the fact that they are vegan / dairy-free is an add-on.

Discover our indulgent plant-based products

Magnum Vegan: “100% pleasure: a velvety plant-based product that provides a creamy experience without the need for dairy”

Vegan salty caramel hazelnut ice cream by Oatly

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Dairy-free coconut-based ice cream, by Swedish Glace. Red berries and chocolate stracciatella pieces

2 - Better-for-you treats

In the world of “clean eating”, some consumers are not ready to give up on their good habits or feel guilty for ice cream. Some brands position their products as better-for-you treats: dairy-free / vegan, with added nutritional benefits. No/low sugar, rich in vitamins or minerals, source of probiotics, … Examples are plenty.

Alpro 360 calories plant-based ice cream

Alpro (Western Europe): plant-based, 360 calories per tub, no sweeteners

Ibense (Spain). Vegan, gluten & lactose-free. Low calories, saturated fats and sodium, but rich in oleic acids, which helps protect the cardiovascular system. It is made by hand following an ethical process.

Dream pops (US): Plant-based frozen dessert. Packed with superfoods. Dairy-, gluten- and soy-free. All under 100 calories with no artificial flavors or additives. Snackable, portion-controlled and mess-free!

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To go further

Taste is key, but what kind of positioning should you go for? Which ingredients can you use/not use?

Learn more about the difference between vegan, dairy-free and non-dairy claims.

Discover our Plant Craft ingredients here.

Keep reading

Discover our plant-based products

Tanzania Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate 75% from Tanzania, delivering the perfect balance of acidity, intense cocoa bitterness and fruity notes. Mainly concentrated in the area surrounding Lake Malawi, cocoa culture is more than 50% organic and provides some spectacular beans, giving Tanzania its unique reputation. Accounts for only 0.1% of the world's cocoa harvest.

Range
Chocolate
Fluidity

Standard fluidity
Cocoa intensity

3
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

75%

Dark chocolate without added sugar (Steviol)

Without added sugar milk chocolate with max 10% of maltitol, meaning no laxative claim on the pack is needed. High in fibers and sweetened with natural steviol glycosides.

Range
Chocolate
Fluidity

Standard fluidity
Cocoa intensity

3
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

82.1%

CHD-Q15

Nicely balanced dark chocolate with a slightly higher cocoa note. The rheology is suitable for different applications.

Range
Chocolate
Fluidity

Standard fluidity
Cocoa intensity

2
Min. % Dry cocoa solids

56.9%

Papua New Guinea Dark chocolate

Starting off with a strong smoky taste, this Papua New Guinea dark chocolate exhibits a creamier, rounder character as it explores the palate, displaying hints of cherry and prune and an explicit cappuccino-like finish.