Reviews: Mings Springs Into Meals; Plus: Protein Pints, Bumpin Blends

In this reviews roundup, we check out Protein Pints ice cream, Mings frozen meals and Bumpin Blends’ Barbie collab.

Protein Pints

Ice cream brand Protein Pints recently launched nationally into select Kroger banner stores. The brand is available in five flavors (Cookie Dough, Mint Chip, Peanut Butter Chip, Chocolate and Strawberry) and packs 30 grams of protein and 15 grams of sugar per container.

Things that stand out:

• The rich texture and creamy mouthfeel are satisfyingly comparable to traditional, full-fat ice creams.
• The brand offers classic, approachable flavors in a recognizable format. Cookie Dough was our favorite.
• The packaging callouts clearly communicate the value proposition, while the bold look is reminiscent of fitness supplement brand design.

Things to consider:

• There is a little bit of a chalky aftertaste that likely comes from the protein isolate.
• The low sugar is a welcome attribute, but the use of allulose and monk fruit might put some consumers off the brand.
• The net-carbs equation is not always recognized as an accurate label claim and can be hard to understand for grocery shoppers.

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Mings

Founded by celebrity chef Ming Tsai in 2020, MingsBings began as a handheld, plant-based frozen snack brand. It later expanded into animal proteins as interest in alternative meats waned. Nestlé recently licensed Mings to bring it beyond Bings and develop a line of Asian-inspired frozen meals available in Chicken Ramen, Spicy Beef Ramen, Spicy Dan Dan Noodles and Sweet Chili Chicken & Broccoli.

Things that stand out:

• For those counting macros, each meal provides at least 14 grams of protein and as much as 28 grams in the Spicy Dan Dan variety.
• For a microwaveable meal, the noodles were well-cooked with clear directions on how best to prepare.

Things to consider:

• Considering Mings was conceptualized early on as a plant-based brand, meat-free options would be a good addition to the line.
• Noodle dishes are a good starting place, but a move into grains provides a less carbohydrate-heavy alternative for consumers.

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Bumpin Blends Barbie Strawberry Dream

Frozen smoothie cube maker Bumpin Blends originally launched in 2019 as a premium-positioned, direct-to-consumer brand. It expanded into retail grocery with bagged smoothie cubes tailored to specific value propositions. Last year, it landed a highly-coveted Barbie licensing deal for its Strawberry Dream variety.

Things that stand out:

• The bold pink packaging stands out, leaning on the Barbie co-branding to bring new consumers to the brand.
• Strawberry Dream has a nice flavor profile, leveraging the fruit and monk fruit as sweeteners instead of adding sugar.
• The nutritionals – 6 grams of protein, collagen and 10% daily value of vitamin C – provide a good case for a healthy breakfast option or midday snack.

Things to consider:

• Using smoothie cubes is not necessarily intuitive, and waiting for the cubes to melt enough in a shaker is not as convenient as some might imagine.
• The texture can be inconsistent when just mixed with milk or water. It doesn’t quite provide the same thick consistency expected from a blended fruit smoothie.
• The product contains cashews and doesn’t call out tree nuts on front-of-pack, which could be problematic for those with nut allergies.

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