Growing Demand for Dairy-Free, Vegan Frozen Yogurt

Vegans and others who are interested in non-dairy desserts might like sorbet but many still want a creamy frozen dessert. Nut milks, soy milk and coconut milk have enough fat that they can be used to produce a creamy frozen dessert. Ben & Jerry’s introduced their first line of vegan ice cream this year in late February, becoming the first mainstream company to offer vegan ice cream. The Ben & Jerry line uses almond milk. Blue Bunny is currently testing non-dairy ice cream made with almond milk. Honey Hill Farms has introduced coconut milk mixes.

According to the Vegetarianism in America survey from Vegetarian Times, 1 million adults in the US population follows a vegan diet. But dairy-free desserts have broader appeal; 25% of the US population is lactose intolerant. Others who aren’t strictly vegan are looking for more plant based foods for health reasons. Almond milk is the most popular dairy alternative; it accounts for over 50% of non-dairy milk sales. Dairy-free yogurt and dairy-free frozen dessert sales are also growing.

“According to Mintel data, across most segments (from 2013-2014) – including frozen ‘novelty’ treats, gelato, sherbet/sorbet/ices, frozen yogurt and ice cream – consumers say they are buying the same as last year. One segment where purchases have increased, however, is non-dairy frozen treats with nearly 45% of consumer saying they are buying more.”

Technavio recently named dairy-free frozen yogurt as one of the three key emerging trends in the frozen yogurt industry.

Tutti Frutti was the first mainstream frozen yogurt chain to come out with a dairy-alternative frozen yogurt, choosing to use soy milk as a base. TCBY partnered with Silk introduce a dairy-free almond milk based probiotic frozen yogurt back in 2013. Both Pinkberry and Menchie’s recently introduced coconut milk based soft serve. Pressed Juicery Freeze has two flavors made with almond milk.

Frozen yogurt mix manufacturers are also offering mixes made with dairy alternatives. Here’s a list of companies that offer vegan/non-dairy soft serve products:

You can find all these suppliers in our online Supplier Directory.