Leveraging the Power of Colour in Plant-Based Ice Cream
Plant-based ice cream is evolving rapidly across Europe
When opting for plant-based frozen treats, a contributing factor is shoppers’ concern about the environment. Of Spanish consumers, 66% claim to use dairy alternative products instead of dairy ones to help the environment (Mintel, 2022). Growing consumers’ awareness combined with more market options to choose from, enables consumers to take a closer look at what their choice of ice cream is being made of and what the ingredient composition looks like. In Italy, 64% of Italians comment that the base ingredient of their non-dairy ice cream is important to them, as Mintel reports.
Popular ingredients in plant-based ice cream launched in Europe in 2022*
Source: Mintel GNPD, 2022
*More than 1 ingredient may be present in the ice cream
Ice cream being an inherently indulgent product category, there is opportunity for some plant-based alternatives to up their game.
Currently, the perception of vegan ice cream lacking enjoyment cues and not being able to compare to dairy ice cream is a hindrance for the segment to gain further penetration. In fact, consumers want vegan alternatives to deliver the same sensory experience of original milk-based ice cream. Amongst Polish consumers, 67% claim that both taste and texture should be resembled, as Mintel reports.
With colour being the primary contributor to reveal visual appeal and drive flavour profiles, natural colouring solutions are inherently required to drive sensory appeal for any oat, pea, or other vegan ice cream. Vibrant colouring foods and natural colours are a perfect fit for vegan ice cream to stand out and support consumers’ decision process to trial.
Explore naturally vibrant colour shades for distinct looks in plant-based ice cream:
Visual Impact for Plant-Based Ice Cream
If you want to get your project started and would like to discuss colour solutions with us, reach out and request a consult with our technical experts anytime. To sample any colour shade from our natural rainbow, request a sample here.
