Costco’s Slutty Dips, Coffee Mate Creamers, and More Vegan Food News of the Week

It seems that every week in the world of vegan food news is more exciting than the last and this week is no exception. Atlanta’s popular vegan fast-food chain Slutty Vegan is getting deep into dips and they just launched at Costco. Amazon Fresh got a fresh delivery of vegan meat from Brazil’s Future Farm. And Coffee Mate just veganized its classic creamer flavors. Read on for more. 

1Slutty Vegan dips drop at Costco

Slutty Vegan is best known for its growing chain of vegan restaurants across Atlanta and the celebrity customers who sing its praises. However, founder Pinky Cole has been expanding her empire in creative ways, including a line of vegan CBD gummies, a shoe collaboration with Steve Madden, a Slutty Vegan flavor with snack brand Rap Chips, and so much more. 

Slutty Vegan

This month, Cole is heading to Costco with the launch of Pinky’s Dips. Available in the debut flavor of Vegan Spinach Artichoke, the new dip line can be found at participating Costco stores across the Southeast and Midwest. “We’re bringing our latest vegan creation to Costco,” Cole said in a statement. “These bangin’ dips are as mouth-watering as our burgers and made with all vegan ingredients—but you’d never know it by the taste.” 

The Costco launch follows a limited April release of Slutty Vegan Side Dips with Target and the Slutty Vegan team hopes to release additional flavors in the near future. 

And because Cole—whose first cookbook Eat Plants B*tch drops in November—is unstoppable, this week, there was also news on the restaurant front with a new Slutty Vegan location, its first outside of Georgia, slated to open in Birmingham, AL this Sunday. And Brooklyn, get ready because Slutty Vegan’s first New York City location is slated to open on September 17 in the Fort Greene neighborhood.

2Brazil’s vegan meat giant makes Amazon Fresh debut

Brazilian vegan company Future Farm has been killing it with kindness since 2019 and its plant-based products are distributed in 30 countries in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. This week, it made massive progress on its retail distribution in the United States through Amazon Fresh, where its Future Burger, Future Beef, and Future Sausage, are all priced competitively with animal products as part of the company’s mission to democratize plant-based meat. In addition to Amazon Fresh, this week, Future Farm’s products became available at two Sprouts Farmers Market locations in Southern California. 

Future Farm

“We’re excited to make our vision of a world where people choose to eat more plants, not animals, accessible to more and more people across the United States, and working with these retailers is part of our plan for consistent growth and expansion,” Future Farm CEO Alexandre Ruberti said in a statement. “We know the customers at Amazon Fresh and Sprouts are aligned with our brand values—sustainable and 100-percent clean label products. We are delighted to invite them to change the way the world eats.”

Future Farm aims to bring additional products to the US in other categories, including alternatives to poultry, seafood, and dairy. The brand is also currently wrapping up a menu takeover at four Los Angeles-area restaurants to showcase its range of plant-based meats. 

3We have the (vegan) meats

In more vegan meat news, South Korea’s UNLIMEAT—known for its tender vegan meats made with upcycled grains, oats, and nuts—announced it will get into new formats, including deli slices such as pepperoni and mortadella. The company worked with Bayerische Fleischerschule Landshut, a charcuterie institute in Germany, to nail the formulation for its deli meats which retain their moisture with the help of an improved plant-based fat made with coconut oil. “Usually, vegan pepperoni tends to dry out or burn when cooked in the oven,” Kyle Kim, UNLIMEAT Chief Technology Officer, said in a statement. “I am sure UNLIMEAT is the only product that does not deform even after cooking.” 

UNLIMEAT

As for the mortadella, the improved fat also contributes to its meat-like texture. Both new products are made using authentic European recipes for pepperoni and mortadella with the help of the German institute and are flavored with natural spices such as fennel seeds, caraway seeds, cardamom, nutmeg, and oak smoke.  

The company plans to launch these products—which will be sold frozen with a shelf life of 12 months—through a large distribution channel. 

4Coffee Mate’s new vegan creamers

This week, Nestlé-owned brand Coffee Mate announced that it will launch two vegan versions of its most iconic creamer flavors: French Vanilla and Caramel. Both are made with a blend of oat and almond milks and will launch in 28-ounce containers for a suggested retail price of $4.29 each. These new takes on old favorites are set to hit stores January 2023.

Nestlé

“As creamer fans continue to seek variety, both in flavor and ingredients, it was only natural for Coffee Mate to step into the plant space,” Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Leader of the Creamer Business Unit, said in a statement. “Now everyone can have the best of both worlds—the delicious taste of Coffee Mate, featuring plant-based ingredients.” 

While this is the first time Nestlé launched vegan creamers under its Coffee Mate brand, its subsidiary line Natural Bliss has offered plant-based creamers in a variety of flavors since 2017. 

5Salt & Straw’s vegan pup cups

Have you ever taken your dog through the drive-through at Starbucks wishing they had a treat for your furry friend that wasn’t a wad of dairy whipped cream? Or maybe you saw Ben & Jerry’s doggie ice cream and thought, “Wow, this would be cool if it didn’t contain butteroil”? 

Salt & Straw

Then Salt & Straw made something just for you—err, your dog, that is. On August 26 (better known as National Dog Day), the artisanal ice cream brand is launching A Cup for Pups, which founders Kim and Tyler Malek made as a way for fur babies and their parents to celebrate the holiday together. 

The coconut-based vegan ice cream comes in a mini 3.6-ounce tub in an Apples & Carrots with Sweet Potatoes Ribbons flavor that’s made with human-grade ingredients. Salt & Straw locations are also hosting a Yappy Hour from 4pm to 6pm on August 26 when customers can get a complimentary “pup cup” with any purchase. Can you eat it? Probably. Should you? There are plenty of vegan options on Salt & Straw’s human ice cream menu that are a little sweeter than this savory-leaning creation. 

Salt & Straw

The pup cups can also be purchased in-store or ordered for local delivery for $3.75 each. For those not near a Salt & Straw, the company is offering nationwide shipping of them as a pack of 12 for $65 (shipping included).  

For the latest vegan news, read:Food Network Champion Priyanka Naik Is Home Bistro’s First Vegan Chef
Harry & David Just Launched Vegan Charcuterie  
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