It’s nearly time to say goodbye to February. Is anyone else relieved that spring is just around the corner? We’ll take a wild guess: It’s not just us. We’ll also bet we’re not alone in spending the next few weeks counting down to season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which will welcome vegan entrepreneur Pinky Cole to the cast for the first time.
In an exclusive interview with VegNews, Cole said she relished the opportunity to raise awareness about veganism. “I could tell that some of the women haven’t really been around people who are vegan, so they got a chance to understand my lifestyle—to see what I eat and what I don’t eat,” she said. She added, “I’m just excited that with this show, there will be more visibility on veganism.”
You can read the rest of our chat here, which also covers the beginnings of Cole’s iconic burger chain, her tips for balancing parenthood with running a business, and her future plans.
But before you go, be sure to catch up on this week’s TOP food news. We’ve got exciting updates on plant-based Easter treats at Trader Joe’s, new vegan ice cream, and more.
Trader Joe’s launches plant-based Peeps
Peeps are a staple Easter candy for many families, and now, thanks to Trader Joe’s, more vegans can join in the fun. Unlike traditional Peeps, Trader Joe’s dupe of the popular marshmallow treat is gelatin-free. The new Easter-themed Marshmallow Eggs come in packs of three and are made with carrageenan—a gelling agent derived from red seaweed—as well as pea protein. According to Trader Joe’s, they’re still “playfully pillowy and sumptuously soft.”
If you’re looking to stock up on vegan marshmallows for your Easter candy fix, Trader Joe’s is in good company. Other vegan-friendly brands include Dandies, Yummallo, and Freedom Mallows.
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot teams up with Robin Arzón on new limited-edition meal delivery
Popular vegan meal delivery service Purple Carrot has teamed up with Robin Arzón—a New York Times bestselling author and Peloton instructor—on a new limited-edition box inspired by her brand-new cookbook, Eat to Hustle. The box features four exclusive recipes from the cookbook: Creamy Mac and Cheese, Tofu Hand Rolls, Chorizo Burrito Bowls, and Chickpea Pozole.
Available through March 25, the box is offered for a limited time, and VegNews new customers can receive $25 off with the code HUSTLE100.
Another new vegan flavor at Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw has added another vegan flavor to its lineup: Captain’s Berried Treasure. The returning dairy-free ice cream is part of the chain’s Cereal-sly Delicious Series, inspired by beloved childhood cereals. Captain’s Berried Treasure blends coconut and oat milk–based ice cream with housemade purple cookie puffs made from freeze-dried berries.
The brand has already introduced several new vegan options this year. In January, for example, it debuted a dairy-free Black Forest ice cream cake, made with chocolate cake, frozen yogurt, cherry jam, and crystallized cacao nibs.
Health-Ade
Health-Ade launches Strawberry Mango Chili kombucha
The North American kombucha market is growing quickly. In 2020, it was valued at $1.2 billion, and by 2027, it’s expected to reach nearly $3 billion. Health-Ade is one of the category’s market leaders, and the key to its success? Innovative, creative flavors.
In March, for example, it’s launching a new Strawberry Mango Chili kombucha. The limited-edition spring drink is made with real organic fruit juice, organic acids, and living probiotics.
Row 7
Canned vegetables are getting a Michelin chef-crafted makeover
Michelin-starred chef Dan Barber’s vegetable company Row 7 is committed to leveling up tinned vegetables. The seed-to-table brand has launched a new line of shelf-stable cans, including Badger Flame Beets (a golden beet variety), Sweet Prince Tomatoes (a sweet, summery cherry tomato variety), and Sweet Garleek (a garlic-leek hybrid).
“Flavor doesn’t start in the kitchen—it starts with the seed,” says Dan Barber, who is also the co-owner of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, NY. “Most canned vegetables come from varieties bred for yield and logistics. Ours come from varieties bred for exceptional flavor, which means they shine fresh and translate beautifully in the tin.”
“When you start with a seed bred for flavor, tinning isn’t a compromise—it’s a way to enhance what’s already there.”
The new tinned vegetables are now available at Whole Foods Market locations across the Northeast, and customers nationwide can purchase them directly online.
Fat Boys Vegan Burgers
Fat Boys Vegan Burgers is closing in Brooklyn, but it’s not goodbye forever
The popular burger joint recently announced on Instagram that it will shut down in June 2026. Fans, however, don’t need to panic. The team says it’s still figuring out what’s next for the brand, suggesting this isn’t the end of Fat Boys Vegan Burgers.
In the meantime, the restaurant is launching a new comedy venture called Fat Boys Funny Buddies. From now until the end of April, the space will host a secret lineup of comedy acts every Sunday evening. Tickets are $30 and include a voucher for a free burger and side.
“If this place has ever fed you, made you laugh, or felt like a free space… this one’s for you,” the statement said.
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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 shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
