There’s no denying that consumer interest in plant-based options has been on the rise over the past several years—taking a quick look at the non-dairy milk selection at most grocery stores is evidence enough. And although a majority of the population doesn’t follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, consumption of vegan and vegetarian options is becoming more common—according to Technomic’s recent Center of the Plate: Seafood and Vegetarian Consumer Trend Report, 42% of consumers eat vegan or vegetarian options at least once a week, compared to 34% in 2018. But consumers are increasingly looking for these options when dining out, too—not just for at-home consumption.
One area in particular that has yet to meet the needs of plant-based diners or diners looking for dairy-free options is dessert—frozen desserts, specifically. Wanting to choose non-dairy frozen desserts often meant consumers would have to settle for a fruit sorbet when what they really wanted was a scoop of vanilla ice cream, for instance. Early iterations of dairy-free dessert options often left much to be desired in the way of texture, richness, aftertaste and more. But for operators looking to appeal to plant-based diners—or even diners who are just curious about trying a plant-based option—finding a delicious, dairy-free frozen dessert can be a boon to the bottom line.
Ripple offers a plant-based answer that ice cream lovers have been waiting for. Towering dairy-free soft-serves, perfectly textured hard-packs and creamy shakes are made possible by Ripple’s frozen dessert bases that can be used in any soft serve or ice cream machine. They’re endlessly customizable too, perfect for operators wanting to create seasonal or limited-time flavors.
Currently, dairy-free ice cream isn’t on the menu at many restaurants—according to Ignite menu data, just 0.3% of restaurants offer it. And with the rise in popularity of plant-based options, not offering vegan dessert options such as dairy-free soft serve or sundaes can mean leaving money on the table.
Ripple frozen dessert bases are packaged in labor-saving formats, ensuring no added stress to back-of-house workers, and are available in two flavors—original and vanilla—for optimum customizability. Ripple’s Original base offers a neutral flavor profile ready to take on an operator’s signature flavor additions, while Ripple Vanilla offers a familiar, classic taste that’s perfectly complimented by additions such as chocolate chips, caramel swirl and many more mix-ins.
As consumer interest in plant-based options only grows, demand for plant-based desserts will also grow, and operators need to be ready to meet the demand. To learn more about Ripple frozen dessert bases, click here.
This post is sponsored by Ripple