Ice Cream

Marco Sweets & Spices is ceasing operations after four years on the market, citing financial difficulties following a widespread product recall earlier this summer by the company’s sole manufacturer.

Allergy-friendly and superfood-infused ice cream brand Sunscoop announced today it has raised $2 million in seed funding led by Vibrant Ventures, an investment firm focused exclusively on plant-based CPG, with additional participation from H/L Ventures and Torch Capital, among other early angel investors. The company said it will use the new capital to continue expanding its team, distribution and product portfolio.

After 150 years in business, Graeter’s ice cream CEO Richard Graeter says he’s still committed to using the same process his great-grandmother Regina used in the 1900s.But that doesn’t mean the family business is resistant to change: the Ohio-based company announced last week that it would launch a vegan version of its ice cream in collaboration with food tech company Perfect Day.

Now, we’re turning to the brand’s point of view. In this episode of Category Closeup: Product Showcase NOSH editor Carol Ortenberg and Taste Radio producer Ray Latif will interview executives and brand leaders from both emerging and established ice cream companies to discuss company strategy, category evolution and new product information.

Though ice cream sits in the freezer, it’s still hot with consumers, investors and retail buyers. So for the second edition of Category Close-Up, a video series available exclusively to BevNET and NOSH subscribers, we’re taking a deep dive into the trends and news — as well as the innovative brands and products — that are currently shaping the ice cream industry.

In this video NadaMoo CEO Daniel Nicholson traces back the evolution of the brand and discusses how the interest (and investment) in both the frozen dessert set and plant-based products has impacted the company. He also shares how the company has managed to find success over the past 15 years.

Moving from supplying brands to also helping create them, vegan “dairy” ingredient supplier Perfect Day announced an agreement in which it is investing in new brand The Urgent Company.

As seen at the 2020 Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco this week, ice cream brands continue to innovate with vegan and lactose-free ingredients, internationally inspired flavors and sustainable packaging. Check out the gallery to see what ice cream and frozen dessert products were seen on the show floor, including a new line from Alden’s Organic and new flavors from NOSH Pitch Slam 7 Winner Beckon.

In this video from NOSH Live Summer 2019, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams founder Jeni Britton Bauer and CEO John Lowe discuss using thoughtful communication to take their ice cream business to even sweeter heights.

Oatly is ready to offer shoppers more than just milk, general manager Mike Messersmith told NOSH. Over the next two months the oat milk company will launch a line of ice cream into several national retailers. In 2020 the company will also bring online its largest facility to-date and double its current manufacturing capacity.