Even though the temperatures are once again near freezing and more snow is in the forecast, that brief warm-up provided a glimpse to how intense this summer is going to be. No longer will we take warmth and sunshine for granted. Every minute is to be savored. And ice cream is a very important part of summer-time fun.
In January I blogged on “Ice Cream Trends 2014.” You can view this blog HERE.
My predictions have been republished in dairy magazines around the world and I have received much feedback from ice cream entrepreneurs who want to share their soon-to-be released innovations that support my predictions. Many are still embargoed, so stay tuned. Some are showcased in this blog.
This blog builds on my predictions made in January. Those predictions are supported by a number of recent product introductions.
#1. I think chocolate ice cream lovers have grown tired of all the salty caramel variations that had stolen freezer space this past year. They must have created some secret online petitions to get ice cream marketers to once again put chocolate on the menu because chocolate is once again in the spotlight.
Some of the same is true for plain old vanilla, which is my favorite. As with all flavors used in ice cream, in this day and age of clean-label formulating, it is best to use natural flavors, especially vanilla. When you can identify the source of vanilla, call it out on the package.
This is exactly what you get with Choctál, a line of indulgent, ultra-premium ice creams made with the world’s finest single-origin, sustainably sourced vanilla and chocolate ingredients. Choctál ice cream products are made using chocolates and vanillas grown around the world, allowing consumers to experience unique and distinct flavor profiles. Much like how estate-grown wines vary greatly depending on the characteristics of the different climates and soils that they grow in, the same is true of chocolates and vanillas grown in different countries.
Each of the eight flavors made by Choctál is unique in both color and taste. The four chocolate varieties are: Costa Rican Chocolate, Dominican Chocolate, Ghana Chocolate and Kalimantan Chocolate: Dark and intense; finished with the slightest touch of caramel. The four vanilla varieties are: Indonesian Vanilla, Madagascar Vanilla, Mexican Vanilla and Papua New Guinea Vanilla.
The products come in pints and 4-fluid-ounce single-serve containers. All the formulations are gluten free and egg free without any artificial additives, according to the company.
For more information, visit HERE.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Blue Bell introduced a true chocolate lover’s delight! I (heart) Chocolate Ice Cream is chock-full of everything chocolate. This limited-edition flavor is smooth milk chocolate ice cream combined with dark chocolate-filled chocolate hearts, chocolate-coated cake pieces and a chocolate icing swirl.
“This is our first new flavor of the year,” says Carl Breed, director of marketing for Blue Bell. “I (heart) Chocolate is loaded with everything chocolate from the ice cream to candies and even cake pieces. I think we have covered all the bases on this one. Chocoholics will love this ice cream!”
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Hudsonville Ice Cream also recently launched a limited-edition chocolate flavor: Chocolate Craving. This chocolate ice cream is loaded with chocolate brownies, chocolate truffles and a butter fudge swirl. “Our new flavor is a chocolate-lover’s dream,” says Caryn Beatty of Hudsonville Ice Cream. “It couldn’t be loaded with more chocolate if we tried.”
Triple Chocolate is also one of four flavors in Breyers’ new gelato line. This variety combines milk and dark chocolate gelato with white chocolate sauce and chocolate curls.
#3. That brings us to my third ice cream insight: Gelato. This premium ice cream concept will continue to grow. Read more about the gelato trend HERE.
The three additional varieties in the new Breyers line are: Raspberry Cheesecake (cheesecake gelato with raspberry sauce and graham crumble), Tiramisu (mascarpone gelato with espresso sauce, ladyfinger cookie pieces and cocoa) and Vanilla Caramel (vanilla gelato, caramel sauce and caramel curls).
Graeter’s gelato flavors are: Caramel Truffle, Hazelnut Truffle, Vanilla with Dark Chocolate Truffles and Vanilla with Milk Chocolate Truffles.
“Graeter’s has focused solely on hand-crafting our super-premium ice cream for four generations, and we’ll certainly continue to serve to our tried and true fans, but we’re excited to open the door to new customers and experiences with our gelato line,” says Richard Graeter, CEO of the 4th generation, family owned company.
#4. Here’s a trend that I have not spoken to directly for ice cream, rather for dairy, in general. It’s gluten free. Just like lactose free, I have always said, if you can make the claim, then make it. There’s a growing number of consumers trying to avoid either or both, for real or perceived health reasons.
Of course, in ice cream, lactose free is a bit more complicated, but with the addition of lactase enzyme to the milk prior to processing, it is possible. Gluten free is much simpler, especially with most plain and simple clean-label formulations.
To read more about gluten-free claims, link HERE.
For Hudsonville, gluten-free labels are clearly visible on many flavors, including Vanilla, Michigan Deer Traxx, Mackinac Island Fudge, Triple Peanut Butter Cup, Grand Traverse Bay Cherry Fudge and a flavor launched at the end of 2013, Toasted Coconut.
“We are thrilled to highlight the fact that so many of our flavors are naturally gluten free as we know that is going to be a huge bonus for the one in 133 people in the U.S. who have celiac disease and the even greater number, around 6% to 7% of the population who are gluten sensitive,” says Beatty.
For more information, visit HERE.
#5. Fruit ices and sorbets are typically gluten free and lactose free, which is contributing to the revitalization of this category. When made with real fruit ingredients, these products are especially attractive to the health and wellness consumer.
S.R. Rosati is introducing a pelletized ice product through a joint venture with Kemps. Made using a cryogenic freezing process, Cry Baby Teardrops are sour cherry ice pellets and Typhoon Raindrops are lemon lime.
The company also plans to bring back its highly successful party pails, which were launched in summer 2013 in a 4-quart size. For 2014, the pails will also be in a more convenient (for small freezers) 2-quart size. Rosati Party Pails come in four flavors: Classic Cherry, Classic Rainbow (cherry, blue raspberry and lemon), Mango and Root Beer. Rosati Ice is known for its recipe that allows the Italian ice to remain scoopable even at really cold temperatures….but not as frigid as what Chicago experienced this winter!
For more information, link HERE.
This leads me into the two final ice cream insights for this blog: Better-for-you and less-sugar.
#6. Better-for-you frozen desserts are often not Standard of Identity products, as the addition or omission of certain ingredients does not allow it to be legally called ice cream, at least in the U.S. That’s what makes these products so special, especially when they deliver on taste, texture and nutrition. This is the case with Naturally Smart, a product that was first produced in October 2013 in 3-gallon containers for foodservice by its namesake company based in Jacksonville, FL.
The company’s first wholesale run was in November 2013, and as of this past Wednesday (February 19, 2014), pints of the product are available in the Jacksonville Whole Foods Market.
“The response has been amazing,” says Mark Patterson, president of Naturally Smart. The company plans to grow nationally and add new flavors (coffee, coconut and green tea) to the line, which debuted in chocolate and vanilla.
Naturally Smart is a frozen dessert that’s a healthier alternative to ice cream. To label something as ice cream it needs to have at least 10% butterfat and a certain amount of milk solids, according to Patterson. “The fat content of Naturally Smart is lower, at about 6%. Our lower fat content and the fact that we don’t have the required level of milk solids means that we can’t call Naturally Smart ice cream, so that’s why we call it a frozen dessert.
“Naturally Smart is a good source of protein (from the addition of whey protein concentrate), and that’s the whole point of it,” he says. “It’s also all natural--made with milk, cream and natural sugar. Some people wanted me to use corn syrup or artificial sweeteners but it was important to me to be as natural as possible with all our ingredients.
“I was originally targeting athletes as my customer. They’re still one of our focuses but we’ve realized there’s a broader and much bigger market for what we’re doing,” says Patterson. “Naturally Smart appeals to a lot of people…people who are looking at the nutrition labels on their food and who want to make a better decision about what they feed their families. That’s our core audience.”
For more information, visit HERE.
#7. Lucky number seven! The lower-sugar ice cream segment has experienced peaks and valleys over the years.
Graeter’s new product launch includes a reduced-sugar line using monk fruit extract. The “A Little Less Indulgent” line will be featured this week as a Daily Dose of Dairy…stay tuned.
Another unique concept comes from Belgium. This frozen dessert relies on stevia for sweetness. It, too, will be featured as a Daily Dose of Dairy very soon. Not a subscriber, you can subscribe HERE.
In conclusion, artisan ice cream manufacturers continue to support the phrase: expect the unexpected.
Here are some innovations that Portland, OR-based Salt & Straw, which is known for featuring the state’s famous berries, vegetables, meats and cocktails through unimagined ice cream flavors, will be scooping this summer.
- Birthday Cakes and Blackberries
- Black Raspberries and Pork Belly
- Bone Marrow & Bourbon Smoked Cherries
- Carrot Watermelon Sorbet
- Chocolate Chip Mint Julep
- Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero
- Lemon Amaretto Sour Sherbet
- Melon & Prosciutto Ice Cream
- Pineapple Honey Dorléac
- Rhubarb & Saffron Champagne Cocktail
- Strawberry with Cilantro Lime Cheesecake Strawberry & Verbena Pimm's Cup
- Summer Cucumber & Raspberry Sorbet
- Tomato Water Olive Oil Sherbet
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