Call us: +57 601 269 9978
Plant-based ice cream: how veganism opens new doors
Alimentos SAS • Aug 04, 2021
Nowadays, it is easier than ever before to find vegan options at retail locations or food establishments. As veganism and other animal-free diets become more popular, the food industry is catching up to these growing trends. Keep reading to learn more about a leading opportunity for fruit-related businesses: plant-based ice cream.
Veganism and the rise of plant-based food products
Once a rare way of eating, veganism has grown in popularity. Just last year, Ipsos Retail Performance released some impactful figures about plant-based eaters in the United States. Back in 2004, about 290,000 people followed such diets. The number rose to 9.6 million people in 2019 – a 300% increase, representing almost 3% of the American population (Kirkwood, 2020).
So, what is veganism, exactly? Simply put, it is a philosophy that avoids the use and consumption of products made from animals. Diet is the most recognized facet of this lifestyle. However, veganism also includes choices regarding clothing and hygiene or cosmetic products (Sentient Media, 2021).
There are numerous motivations behind veganism and its rise as a lifestyle choice for many people around the globe (Sentient Media, 2021):
- As a plant-based diet, health concerns can be considered a suitable nutritional alternative to consuming animal products.
- Animal welfare, like factory farms and other animal-driven industries, is deemed exploitative and cruel.
- Environment distress, as producing animal items causes a great impact on natural resources.
The booming business of plant-based foods
As veganism grows, the food industry listens. Today, plant-based meat, egg, and dairy products compete with regular animal products in price, accessibility, and even taste. In the past year, grocery sales of plant-based food entirely replacing animal items have increased 27%, reaching 7 billion dollars. Back in 2019, they amounted to 5.5 billion dollars (The Good Food Institute, n.d.).
More specifically, the plant-based dairy category has shown pointed dollar sales growth. Vegan milk, creamer, yogurt, butter, cheese, spreads, and frozen treats are worth 1.9 billion dollars. The latter segment includes plant-based ice cream, which has had 435-million-dollar sales in the last year – a 20% increase.
Plant-based ice cream: a fruit industry opportunity
Veganism has also permeated ice cream businesses. As a result, plant-based ice cream is now a standard product at retail locations and eateries. Additionally, this tendency also accommodates people with allergies or intolerances, as dairy is one of the most common food allergens (Snow Monkey, 2021).
So, how is plant-based ice cream created? Usually, by freezing various kinds of non-dairy milk (Snow Monkey, 2021):
- Nut milk, such as almond or cashew milk.
- Oat milk, which has a rich, creamy texture reminiscent of regular dairy ice cream.
- Coconut milk, that makes it very creamy, as well as flavorful.
- Soy milk, which carries some of soy’s high protein, fiber, and nutrient content.
Furthermore, some plant-based ice cream is made purely of fruit – usually, fruit purees. These products do not need extra sugar and provide a rich, refreshing mouthfeel with natural flavor (Snow Monkey, 2021). They can also be highly nutritious, as puree tends to retain taste and nutrients from fresh fruit (Dohler, n.d.).
Gelato is popular among the types of ice cream that can be dairy-free. However, sorbetto is giving it a run for its money because it also happens to be fruity as well as vegan friendly. Producers churn juice or fruit puree to make it. Therefore, it has a consistency like regular ice cream. To keep these attributes, it needs to be chilled at a cooler temperature than gelato (The Perfect Scoop, 2017).
Whether it is made with non-dairy milk or fruit derivatives,
plant-based ice cream represents a growing opportunity for the frozen treats and fruit products industries. As more and more people explore veganism as a lifestyle, businesses would be wise to listen to consumers’ developing and ever-evolving preferences to update their offers to stay competitive.
Alimentos SAS Blog
Customer Resources
