Prepared Foods showcases new dairy and dairy alternative foodservice products entering the foodservice marketplace in September 2018.

G.S. Gelato & Desserts, Inc., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., has introduced six new foodservice sorbets with a “fruit gem” inclusion. 

“These flavors are dairy-free, gluten-free and contain no artificial ingredients,” notes, Stephanie Schultz, marketing coordinator. “The ‘gems’ inside are real, sugar-coated fruit pieces that we import from Italy. They are a great differentiator from other sorbets on the market, as they introduce a new, exciting element to this healthy indulgence.”

Flavors include Mango, Blood Orange (pictured), Blueberry Pomegranate, Mixed Berry, Strawberry and Lemon.

G.S. Gelato also offers the new flavors for private label retail sales. And in its annual “Editors’ Picks” awards, Store Brands magazine named G.S. Gelato’s Mango Candito Sorbet a “Gold” category winner for frozen desserts.

G.S. Gelato’s broad foodservice line also includes gelato, soft serve and frozen finished Italian desserts. The company’s web site also features several new frozen gelato flavors including Birthday Cake and Carrot Torte. The company also offers several new dairy-free frozen desserts including a Dairy-Free Chocolate and a vegan “Cookies No Cream” Gelato.

To help operators capitalize on rising demand for dairy-free alternatives, Danone North America, White Plains N.Y., and Broomfield, Colo., introduced Silk Almondmilk Vanilla Soft Serve to its YoCream line of frozen yogurt.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to ‘All kinds of better,’ we want to ensure our soft serve customers are able to provide a delicious, indulgent treat no matter what their patrons’ dairy preferences may be,” says Nico de Valencia, senior national director of YoCream Frozen Yogurt.  

Currently, almondmilk leads the plant-based beverage category with 73% of plant-based retail beverage sales. Valencia says Silk Almondmilk Vanilla Soft Serve represents a significant opportunity for operators to grow their business with a brand that’s highly recognizable by today’s consumers. In fact, Silk received 94% brand awareness according to a 2017 Millward Brown Equity Tracker study. 

Silk Almondmilk Vanilla Soft Serve is Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, kosher, gluten-free and contains no cholesterol, or artificial colors or flavors.

This summer saw Bel Brands USA, Chicago, introduce two new pre-packaged snack cheese lines for foodservice and in-store supermarket deli distribution.

One offering is a Mini Babybel + Mini Butter Crackers. Ideal for on-the-go snacks, consumers simply upwrap the small, semi-soft cheese (100% real) and add the pre-packaged crackers for an instant treat. Mini Babybel varieties include Light (with a square cracker), and Original and White Cheddar flavors (with circular crackers).

Also new are prepackaged, single-serve Laughing Cow Cheese Cups. The new cups join the classic The Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges and Cheese Dippers to offer creamy cheese with many ways to enjoy it. Made from real cheese with no artificial colors, preservatives or artificial flavors, The Laughing Cow Cheese Cups are available in three varieties, including: Creamy Swiss Original, Creamy Swiss Garlic & Herb and Creamy White Cheddar.

The Laughing Cow celebrated the newest addition to its portfolio with the ultimate “Snacky Hour” celebration hosted by Casellula Cheese & Wine Café in New York on June 26, 2018. Head pastry chef, Leigh Friend, and executive chef, Jennifer Scher, offered wine, beer and pairings to dip like Rainbow Bagels with The Laughing Cow Swiss Garlic & Herb Cheese Cups, Veggie Kabobs with White Cheddar Flavor Cheese Cups, and a Blueberry Compote Crostini with Swiss Original Cheese Cups.

Originally appeared in the September, 2018 issue of Prepared Foods as Plant to Plate: New Foodservice Products.