It’s official: summer is here. If you’re still deciding where to go on vacation, might we suggest Mexico City? We’ve got the lowdown on why the Mexican capital is quickly becoming one of the world’s most exciting vegan food destinations. BRB, booking a ticket. Staying closer to home? We’ve got you covered there, too, with guides to the ultimate veggie burger toppings and where to find the best vegan ice cream sandwiches. But before you start planning your dream summer, let’s dive into this week’s food news. It’s shaping up to be sweeter than ever.
Ben & Jerry’s latest non-dairy flavor is available in its Scoop Shops. | Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s just introduced a new non-dairy flavor in its Scoop Shops
Since 2017, Ben & Jerry’s has been serving vegans and dairy-free dessert lovers with an ever-growing lineup of nondairy treats. Today, the brand offers no fewer than 16 non-dairy pint flavors, along with a variety of vegan options at its Scoop Shops. And now, there’s one more to add to the list.
Just in time for summer, Ben & Jerry’s has launched Nondairy Key Lime Pie at its Scoop Shops. The new frozen dessert features a sweet, citrusy oat milk base swirled with graham cracker pieces for a classic pie-inspired flavor. According to the brand, the ice cream is “tart, sweet, and totally unbeatable.”
SmartSweets’ new offering is a vegan take on foam candy. | SmartSweets
SmartSweets launches vegan foam gummies
Whatever gummy candy you’re craving, chances are SmartSweets has a vegan alternative. Swedish Fish? Check. Peach rings? Check. Fluffy, chewy foam candy? Check. Yep, really.
That last option is the brand’s latest innovation. Available at retailers now, SmartSweets’ new Dream Puffs come in adorable cloud and rainbow shapes with the nostalgic soft, squishy texture of classic foam candy. And like all of the brand’s products, they’re not just plant-based, they’re significantly lower in sugar, too. In fact, Dream Puffs contain 91 percent less sugar than traditional foam candy.
We were intrigued by the innovation, so we asked Alexandra Thorne, the senior manager of marketing at SmartSweets, a few questions. Here’s what they had to say:
VegNews: What inspired SmartSweets to enter the foam candy category with Dream Puffs?
Alexandra Thorne: ”We are always listening to our consumers and paying attention to what they are eating, loving, and talking about! Right now, that is foam candy. Fuelled by our spirit of innovation, we set out to make a low-sugar, vegan foam candy that delivers on our promise of no artificial sweeteners, added sugars, sugar alcohols, or synthetic dyes. The distinct manufacturing process developed to create Dream Puffs is unlike anything we’ve done before, and the resulting mix of deliciously creamy Strawberry Foam and Peach Foam flavors with our softest, squishiest texture yet is really special.”
VegNews: Why was now the right time to expand beyond your existing candy formats?
Thorne: ”The Swedish Candy trend is directly fuelling demand for foam formats, and foam candy is growing significantly vs. year ago, dramatically outpacing total non-chocolate candy growth. The white space was clear: no low-sugar better-for-you competitor existed in the format, leaving SmartSweets as the only brand that serves the growing foam candy shopper with a better-for-you choice. This resulted in Dream Puffs, a soft and squishy foam candy with 91% less sugar than traditional foam candy and an entirely new candy texture category for SmartSweets, delivering craveable texture consumers want alongside smooth, perfectly balanced flavors - without all the sugar.”
VegNews: Could Dream Puffs lead to additional texture-forward or format-focused launches in the future?
Thorne: ”Absolutely! The early feedback has been amazing, and the excitement for Dream Puffs paired with our consumer data makes it clear that our shoppers are hungry for more. SmartSweets is in the business of reimagining candy as a category, not just optimizing a single format - we’ve built real credibility and scale in the gummy and chewy candy space. That track record gives us the retailer relationships and consumer trust to successfully introduce new formats, flavors, and textures.”
Lärabar’s new protein bar line comes in three flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate, Cinnamon Nut, and Lemon. | Lärabar
Lärabar debuts new plant-based protein bar line
Lärabar has long proven that great flavor doesn’t require a long ingredients list. Made with an emphasis on whole foods, its bars are known for delivering both taste and nutrition. But the brand decided to raise the bar even higher with its latest launch.
Its new protein bars are just as delicious as the originals, but they pack a much bigger protein punch, with 10 to 12 grams per bar. That’s a significant upgrade from the brand’s classic bars, which contain around four grams of protein each. The plant-based bars are available in three flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate, Cinnamon Nut, and Lemon.
“We heard you. People want more protein, but they don’t want to compromise on taste or quality,” said Scott Baldwin, VP and Business Unit Director for Bars at General Mills. “So we challenged ourselves to make a protein bar that truly tastes like Lärabar, taking everything you love about the original and adding the protein you want.”
Oatly’s new milk contains more than seven grams of fiber per bottle. | Oatly
China is getting a one-of-a-kind high-fiber Oatly
Oatly is constantly rolling out innovative new products and flavors. The only catch? They don’t always make it to the US. Unfortunately, that’s the case with its latest launch: a high-fiber oat milk that recently debuted in China.
And when we say high fiber, we really do mean it. Each bottle contains 7.5 grams of the nutrient. It’s a marked shift in direction from the US market, which is currently obsessed with maximizing protein. But both Americans and Chinese don’t consume enough fiber. So the brand hopes the new product will help attract more Chinese consumers, where demand for functional foods is rising alongside increased use of GLP-1 medications. The launch comes at a key time for Oatly, as it looks to strengthen its performance in the Chinese market.
Could it come to the US next? Follow VegNews for the story.
The highlight of the vegan prom is the five-course plant-based dinner. | The Bizerkeley Vegan
There’s an adult vegan prom happening in Berkeley this weekend
Should teens have all the prom fun? Erika Hazel, founder of Bizerkeley Food Fest, certainly doesn’t think so. That’s why she has teamed up with The Butcher’s Son to host an adult vegan prom in Berkeley, CA this weekend.
Called A Night in the Enchanted Garden, the event will feature a DJ, prom favors, a photo booth, and—arguably the best part—a five-course plant-based dinner. Tickets are still available, and all proceeds will benefit the California Pit Bull Rescue. We caught up with Hazel ahead of the big weekend.
VegNews: What inspired you to create an adult vegan prom experience?
Erika Hazel: I loved high school so much that I attended prom three times, planned the senior prom my junior year, and was senior class president, so wanting to recreate the prom experience over a decade later is one of the dozens of ways I “trick” non-vegans to come to my events and eat amazing vegan food. It also challenges vegans to show off their favorite cruelty-free fashions hiding in their closets, like my Steve Madden “teddy bear” fur coat.
VegNews: What has the response from the community been like so far?
Hazel: We have had such an amazing time with everyone getting dressed up, enjoying the amazing food, and we always host the prom in honor of an animal organization, so we are so excited to raise money for California Pit Bull Rescue this year. The idea was planted in my head by the community to help business owners revive their now-closed restaurants in event form. The Butcher’s Son had this amazing Italian restaurant called King’s Feet that did not survive the pandemic, but the recipes are very much alive—and the Bay Area community misses the food so much. If this event is successful, we will host another one.
VegNews: What do you hope guests take away from the experience?
Hazel: Support your brick and mortar restaurants, get involved in events in the vegan community, and stay connected/reconnect with your inner child! Those who didn’t go to prom love the idea of going to prom as an adult, and the concept is so exciting now that we have guests from 21 to 81 who attend each time we host the event.
Get your tickets to A Night in the Enchanted Garden here.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
