Seasonal—Made Simple
Califia Farms, Los Angeles, expanded its Simple & Organic line with three new on-trend holiday almond creamers: Pumpkin Spice, Maple, and Holiday Spice. The 25.4oz offerings carry a suggested retail of $6.49. “From the cozy richness of pumpkin spice to the delightful flavors of maple and holiday spice, we can’t wait to share these organic seasonal creamer options with our fans for the first time,” said Suzanne Ginestro, chief marketing officer.
Also making its fall debut is Califia’s Horchata, a 48oz multi-serve blend of rice and almond milk with real cinnamon. Officials note that horchata was recently reported among the top 25 global flavor trends.
Powerful Protein Boost
BellRing Brands, Inc., Emeryville, Calif., extended its Premier Protein line with three 11.5oz Almondmilk Non-Dairy Protein Shakes—each with 20g of non-dairy protein, 160 calories or less, and 5g of sugar. Varieties include Chocolate, Vanilla, and Coffee.
“We take pride in our category-leading flavors, and we know a lot of flexitarians are on a never-ending hunt for a non-dairy protein shake that meets their nutrition needs and also tastes great,” said Amy Larek, senior director of marketing. “That’s why we set out to launch a non-dairy protein shake that could delight taste buds and excite our fans.”
Turn Up the Heat!
Daiya Foods Inc., Vancouver, B.C., added two flavor-forward entries to its dairy-free cheese line: new Chipotle Cheddar Shreds and Pepper Jack Slices. Daiya noted the shreds feature real chipotle peppers for “smoky, bold heat” while the Pepper Jack Slices also are made with real jalapeños and red bell peppers.
“We’re pushing flavor and form further than ever,” said John Kelly, chief marketing officer at Daiya. “These bold new cheeses show what dairy-free can really do—craveable heat, creamy melt, and no holding back.”
New Animal-Free Options
Three-year-old Strive Nutrition, Wichita, Kan., uses precision fermentation to create the animal-free whey protein in its Strive FREEMILK offerings. Officials note their process uses natural microflora and a cow’s DNA blueprint to ferment a true dairy protein with all nine essential amino acids. After offering 32oz cartons, Strive greeted this year with two new 48oz bottles of FREEMILK and FREEMILK Chocolate, each delivering 10g of complete protein per serving, zero cholesterol, and no lactose. The products are available at retail in New York City and Kansas City. National customers also can purchase the milk through Strive’s website or Amazon.
“This is more than just a size upgrade—it’s a statement,” said Denny Cohlmia, CEO of Strive Nutrition. “Our new 48oz bottles make FREEMILK even more accessible for families, coffee lovers, and sustainability-minded consumers who want the taste and function of milk, powered by cutting-edge science.”
Organic Oats
Organic Valley Family Farms, La Farge, Wis., extended its namesake line with Oat Beverages in two versions: Original and Creamy. Officials say Original has just three ingredients, including organic oats, water, and a touch of salt. The new Creamy version blends in organic MCT oil for both creaminess and frothiness. Both deverages are suitable for frothing in coffee, adding to cereal and oatmeal, using in baked goods, blending into smoothies and shakes, or drinking on their own. They debuted in September at Whole Foods grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail of $5.99 for a 42oz carton.
“From our research, we know that many of our consumers are reaching for both dairy and plant-based beverages and looking for options that are free from gums and seed oils,” said Laurie Drake, vice president of marketing, Organic Valley. “Our new oat beverage is crafted for those who care about knowing where the ingredients in their food come from and want something that tastes great in every sip.”
Milk—From Corn
This fall saw Maizly, Indianapolis, nearing the end of its first full year of US distribution with two milks (Original, Chocolate) made from non-GMO corn. The milks earned gold medals at the 2024 Plant-Based World Expo and the Maizly’s first US production kicked off last December—followed by US retail distribution in New York City. This April, the company was a finalist for the Specialty Coffee Association’s “Best New Product of the Year Award.”
The milk’s main ingredient, non-GMO corn fiber, provides 8g of fiber per serving offering 29% of the suggested daily intake, officials say. The fortified product (vitamins A, D2, E) also uses coconut oil as well as chickpea protein.
“For all the people out there who have been desperately seeking a replacement for plant milks that can’t seem to get away from seed, nut, and vegetable oils, Maïzly makes it easy,” said Maïzly founder and CEO Tim Leclercq. “We too were frustrated trying to find alternatives and so we unleashed the power of corn. The result was an irresistibly creamy and tasty milk with so many healthy benefits.”
