Products such as chocolate, soft drinks and mixers have proved suitable for upgrade along with dairy products such gourmet ice creams as consumers’ preferences evolve, even in the face of a cost-of-living crisis.

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“I would say any category wher the richer consumer is interested in how their food is produced, there’s certainly a willingness to pay more for what is perceived to be higher quality,” said Jukka Likitalo, secretary general of Eucolait, the European Association of Dairy Trade.

“From a company’s perspective, the more value you can add to your raw material the better, and some companies are doing better at that than others. Some have also invested in the plant-based sector. You have a lot of formerly pure dairy companies that have become mixed companies…Of course, milk alternatives are very close to the portfolio.”

Häagen-Dazs’ launches Cultured Crème yoghurt

As dairy-based brands such as Häagen-Dazs demonstrate a continued appetite for an indulgent taste experience, the latest in premium dairy product offerings now encompass artisanal cheese, grass-fed butter, and organic Greek yoghurt, amongst others.

Häagen-Dazs’ efforts to remain a leader in the premium dairy category continued with the launch of its new Cultured Crème offering in June.

Made with fresh milk and cream, and real fruit, Cultured Crème is said to use a fermentation process that is up to five times longer than traditional yoghurt to create a thick, creamy ice cream-like texture.

Cultured Crème also uses a blend of dairy cultures that offer a smoother taste experience unlike the slightly sour flavour of traditional yoghurt.

The product, which was launched in the US in June 2023, is available in a range of flavours that include vanilla bean, blueberry, and black cherry.

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Taste, texture, health, and ethics considered under the dairy umbrella

Innova Market Insights points to the ever-evolving, dairy category in which brands look to add health benefits, and ethical claims to an indulgent taste and texture in order appeal to consumer core values.

Launched in May, initially in Vietnam, TH Group’s True Yoghurt Seeds and Rice is a great example of these factors coming together in one product with the Vietnam-based firm launching its Yoghurt Seeds and Rice range, initially in two flavours - mango with chia seeds and mango with sticky rice.

Made using natural ingredients, the yoghurts have local produce firmly in mind as they use the dairy’s own milk supply in their production.

Keto-friendly cheesecake and truffle infused cheese

One product that has recently appeared on consumer’s radar has been Get-A-Way’s Keto Friendly Blueberry Cheesecake, a twist on the traditional cheesecake product format that uses ingredients like cream cheese and blueberry fruit to produce a low-carb version of the desert.

The India-based firm has also followed the rules of a keto-friendly product with the inclusion of condensed milk to up the protein content of its product, ensuring consumers can indulge guilt-free.

Part of the ‘I Love Cheesecake’ range, the products are available via the brand’s website in three flavours: traditional New York Style cheesecake, double chocolate, and blueberry.

The product is available in in 100+ retail stores across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Surat, Jaipur, Ahmedabad & Hyderabad.

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Limited edition cheese flavour

Indulgence is the key consideration with the final product as Boursin launched a limited-edition black truffle and sea salt-flavoured cheese in the US.

Combining black truffle and sea salt with real cheese, the Bel group-owned brand say the cheese is perfect for adding to a pasta dish or crumbled on top of a flatbread.

“We’re thrilled to offer consumers the showstopping new limited-edition flavour, Boursin black truffle and sea salt,” said Jamee Pearlstein, brand director of Boursin.

“Over the past few years, both Boursin and truffle have dominated the culinary scene, so it was an obvious choice to blend our signature, creamy cheese with the distinct flavour, to elevate any recipe or charcuterie board.”

Launched in June of this year, the cheese is now available at US retailers including Walmart, Hannaford, Giant Eagle, among others for an SRP of €6.45 ($6.99).