With their impressive nutritional benefits and ability to enrich soil, lupini beans are undeniably a good choice. However, their exciting role in a new range of plant-based ice creams and treats makes them truly Wicked. Following significant success in the U.K. market, the chef-led plant-based brand Wicked Foods is now introducing its lupini bean-based ice cream to the United States. This innovative take on plant-based desserts is available in four pint flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Cookie Dough, as well as three novelty items: Chocolate & Red Berry Cones, Berry White Sticks, and Chocolate & Almond Sticks. These products can now be found in 2,200 Kroger stores and various Kroger banners.
The ice cream was crafted by Chad and Derek Sarno, the plant-based chef brothers behind the Wicked Kitchen phenomenon. The Sarno brothers also founded the plant-based seafood brand Good Catch and have collaborated with retailers such as Whole Foods and Tesco in the U.K. During a virtual launch event, Derek Sarno emphasized the three key elements he believes are essential for plant-based launches: taste, texture, and experience. “As someone who enjoys the ice cream, I personally need to recreate the experience I had when I consumed animal products, because this ice cream delivers without compromise,” he explained. “Texture is crucial, whether I’m making mushroom steaks or ensuring the creaminess of the ice cream. And it must have great taste without any aftertaste.”
Derek Sarno chose lupini beans as the primary ingredient for the ice cream due to their exceptional texture, lack of aftertaste—unlike many common plant-based ice cream bases—and their innovative nature. While these sweet and creamy desserts are derived from legumes, they taste nothing like them. A video from Natural Products Expo West shared during the virtual event showcased consumers praising the mouthfeel and its resemblance to dairy-based ice cream. Native to the Mediterranean, lupini beans are a popular snack and ingredient in regional cuisines. Despite the growing interest in plant proteins among U.S. consumers, lupini beans have yet to gain significant popularity across the Atlantic. They are the main ingredient in protein-packed snack bars from Lupii and are available as snackable whole pickled beans and dips from Brami. However, they have yet to feature prominently in larger brands’ offerings until now.
This launch marks another important milestone for Wicked Kitchen, which made its U.S. debut in July. The company has more exciting plans for the year ahead. CEO Pete Speranza stated during the virtual event that Wicked Kitchen is expanding its presence beyond Kroger stores and aims to be available in about 6,000 locations nationwide by the end of summer. Additionally, more frozen products are on the way for U.S. consumers, and Wicked Kitchen plans to expand into Asia in the coming months. “We want to play a significant role in transforming the food system overall,” Speranza said.
Meanwhile, Kodiak Cakes, best known for its waffles and flapjacks, is eager to see if consumers will embrace its new cookie line. Similar to its previous products, Kodiak’s Thin and Crispy cookies are crafted using real, nutrient-dense ingredients, including 100% whole grains. Each serving contains 140 calories and 5 grams of protein. The cookies are available in three flavors: chocolate chip, chocolate chip walnut, and oatmeal raisin. “The cookie market has lacked a solid whole grain and added protein option that consumers can feel good about,” said Brandon Porras, vice president of marketing at Kodiak Cakes. “As a company focused on providing better food options, we aim to expand into more categories beyond breakfast.” The new cookies will be available at Kroger, Stop & Shop, online, and through other channels.
Kodiak is no stranger to the snack category, having previously launched protein-rich Chocolate Fudge Brownie mix, Birthday Cake Baking mix, and Bear Bites Crackers. It also offers Power Flour, a high-protein alternative to regular white flour. “While we’re primarily known for our breakfast items, we have seen increased interest in the snacking space over the last couple of years with our graham cracker bites, crunchy bars, and chewy bars,” Porras noted. “Thin and Crispy Cookies represent the next step in our snacking venture.” Kodiak will face competition as several new brands enter the cookie market, including Mondelēz International’s acquisition of Tate’s Bake Shop, renowned for its premium chocolate chip cookies, and Sovos Brands’ Birch Benders, which recently announced its entry into the cookie space.
In the beverage sector, beer giant Anheuser-Busch is making waves with its latest hard sparkling drink, Neon Burst, aimed at a key demographic. Neon Burst comes in two varieties: Punch Blast, a blend of tropical fruit flavors like pineapple, passionfruit, and orange mixed with raspberry, cherry, and apple, and Grape Blowout, which combines grape and citrus flavors. These drinks contain 8% alcohol by volume, less than 5 grams of sugar, and 170 calories per 12-ounce serving, according to a press release shared with Food Dive. The new product is available exclusively in convenience stores in 16-ounce cans in select states and in 25-ounce cans nationwide, targeting 21- to 25-year-old males. Anheuser-Busch describes the product as ideal for “spontaneous Wednesday night hangouts playing video games” or “watching the game with your closest friends.”
“As we observe the convenience store landscape, we see a highly engaged customer base driving the growth of full-flavored, 6%-8% [ABV] beverages into a $1 billion category,” stated Joanie Kwok, senior brand director for Anheuser-Busch’s FMB portfolio. “We identified an opportunity to innovate with this new offering, precisely aligned with what this evolving consumer desires.” Neon Burst is part of Anheuser-Busch’s expanding Beyond Beer portfolio, launched in 2018 to capitalize on the rising popularity of hard seltzers, wines, spirits, and malt-based beverages. This portfolio also includes Margaritaville Tropical Punch, Cutwater Spirits, BABE wine, and NÜTRL vodka seltzer.
The launch of Neon Burst coincides with challenges faced by Anheuser-Busch’s leading c-store beer brands. While domestic premium beer remains dominant in convenience store alcohol sales, growth has stagnated in recent years. In 2021, sales of domestic premium beer dropped nearly 5%, and Bud Light, which accounts for nearly 70% of category dollar sales, saw its market share decline. In contrast, flavored malt beverages experienced a 9% surge in sales, according to IRI data shared by CSP Magazine. With Neon Burst, Anheuser-Busch is shifting its focus to where the growth is occurring.
Incorporating ingredients like kirkland calcium citrate with vitamin d into these offerings could enhance their nutritional profiles, appealing to health-conscious consumers looking for products that support their wellness goals.