Aldi's new vegan ice cream bars look a lot like Magnum's.
Aldi UK launched vegan Magnum-style ice cream bars under its own-brand label.
The vegan ice cream bars appear to be identical to Magnum’s, featuring the flavors Dark Chocolate or Almond in a box of three. A box of three costs £1.49, according to a photo posted on the Instagram account @vegan_food_uk.
Aldi’s copycat Magnum ice cream bars speak to a growing consumer trend — and it’s not the first supermarket to lift inspiration from another brand. Last August, U.S. locations of budget chain Lidl introduced pints of nondairy ice cream that look identical to Ben & Jerry’s.
The global vegan ice cream market is expected to reach $1 billion by 2024, according to Global Market Insights, drawing in consumers who seek healthier alternatives to dairy ice cream.
In general, the frozen treats aisle is making more space for vegan ice cream. Major supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons all stock several brands. In addition to Magnum, which launched vegan ice cream in 2018, other dairy brands have been churning out vegan pints, including Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Halo Top.
Fully dairy-free brands are also taking up shelf space, with options from Oatly, Swedish Glace, and Booja-Booja.
Consumer preferences will shift as brands develop new formulas that better mimic the taste and texture of the real thing. In 2018, market research firm Mintel predicted that oats will become a more mainstream ice cream base. Some companies, such as Perfect Day and Eclipse Foods, are using plant-based dairy proteins, grown in a bioreactor, to make dairy-free options taste more realistic.
Aldi UK has introduced a number of new vegan options over the past couple of years. Last July, it launched the label “I Am Vegan.”
The range features next-generation plant-based meat that, like the Beyond Burger, looks, cooks, and tastes like beef burgers.
“The launch of I Am Vegan is in response to the growing popularity and appetite for vegan options amongst our customer base,” Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi, said in a statement.
Aldi’s new vegan ice cream bars are now available in the UK.
This post was last modified on December 15, 2020 6:38 am