Froneri launches UTZ certified plant-based ice cream

04 Feb 2020 --- Global ice cream manufacturer Froneri has launched RØAR – a new ice cream suitable for vegan consumers – as plant-based meal occasions increase. Avoiding palm oil and made with UTZ Certified (part of Rainforest Alliance) cocoa, RØAR is aimed at those who enjoy indulgence but who also want to make responsible food choices.

The launch comes at a time where demand is rife for plant-based ice cream and desserts. Innova Market Insights reports an almost 50 percent average annual growth in vegan desserts and ice creams launched over the past five years. Boosted by a sustainable and natural positioning that reflects consumer demands, the market now provides tasty treats for consumers who are opting more frequently for planet-friendly choices. At the same time, this category is mindful of promoting its health benefits. Now that plant milk is more mainstream, there is a huge push toward bringing more dairy alternative desserts and ice cream to market.

Available in three flavors in a 500 ml tub format: Hazelnut Chocolate Cookie, Coconut Mango Passionfruit Oat Cookie and Hemp Seed Chocolate Brownie, RØAR will be available in the UK through Ocado and Tesco (from March 16). Outside the UK, it will be available in Germany and Finland.

The company also supports the work of not-for-profit organization Panthera’s Tigers Forever fund.

Available in three flavors in a 500 ml tub format: Hazelnut Chocolate Cookie, Coconut Mango Passionfruit Oat Cookie and Hemp Seed Chocolate Brownie (pictured).“As the plant-based movement continues to grow, we will launch in more flavors and it will become available in more countries,” Alicia Munday, Global Marketing Manager, Froneri, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“We wanted to create really indulgent plant-based flavors that had a variety of bases,” she continues. “A lot of plant-based ranges focus only on one key base flavor, whereas we have chocolate, coconut and hazelnut. The packaging was created to hero the majestic tiger, the symbol of our brand.” 

“We have launched RØAR in response to growing consumer demand for plant-based products. Recent research shows that plant-based meal occasions have increased by 37 percent in the last four years. But it isn’t just vegans who are embracing this – there has been a 92 percent increase in plant-based meals consumed by non-vegans,” Froneri CEO Ibrahim Najafi explains. 

“While creating this indulgent plant-based ice cream with a conscience it also made perfect sense to link up with Panthera, giving financial support to their Tigers Forever fund, as well as a range of their other education and awareness initiatives,” he adds. 

“With only around 3,900 tigers remaining in the wild, a mere 4 percent of their historic range, the tiger needs every ally it can get. Panthera monitor tiger populations, train anti-poaching teams in advanced law enforcement techniques, disrupt the trade in tiger parts and develop cutting-edge technology to remotely watch key tiger ranges. We are proud to be supporting them,” Munday concludes. 

By Elizabeth Green