What's new in the dairy aisles in April?

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Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Chunks

Three variations of Ben & Jerry’s latest frozen snack launched in the US this month. The Cookie Dough Chunks strip out the ice cream and package the same chunks found in the brand’s famous cookie dough pints in half-pound bags. Ben & Jerry’s says the dough is safe to eat raw because it contains pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour.

Jody Eley, Innovation Manager and Ben & Jerry’s, said "Fans have been asking for 'just the chunks' for a while now. During a short market test in Vermont last summer, fans snatched up the dough in record time.”​

“Bags flew off the shelves in mere days and stores could not keep the delicious dough bites in stock. Now, Ben & Jerry's is rollin' out the dough to fans across the US."​

The new chunks line is available at nationwide retailers in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

Big Gay Ice Cream pint flavors

Iconic New York City ice cream parlor Big Gay Ice Cream is expanding its pints to West Coast retail, and simultaneously launching three new flavors. Joining its portfolio of six existing pint flavors are Banan-o-Graham, Fluffernutter and Spicy Choco-Lit.

Co-founder Doug Quint said, "We are so excited that Big Gay Ice Cream has arrived on the West Coast. We started in 2009 with a single truck on a street corner in Union Square, New York City, and never in our wildest dreams thought our ice cream would spread from coast to coast.”​

“Our goal has always been to have a blast with awesome ice cream, and with the new territory joining our party we'll all be having more fun than ever."​

All nine pint flavors will be available at retailers like Vons, Albertsons, Pavilions, Circle K, Safeway, Lucky's and Save Mart, in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno and San Francisco.

Friendly’s Dessert Cups

Friendly’s branches out from its ice cream offerings with a new line of single serve Dessert Cups. They contain a variety of layers including ice cream, cake and pie crust bits, vanilla wafer crumbles, fruit pieces, whipped cream and other toppings.

Mark Schneider, marketing director of ice cream at Dean Foods, said "With the success of our Friendly's Sundae Cup lineup, we saw an opportunity to create an even more sophisticated and innovative offering for the ultimate indulgence.”​

"By layering the best ingredients from traditional classic desserts into delicious individual mashups, we're delivering deconstructed dessert classics that satisfy our consumers' craving for variety, while amplifying the taste and quality they've come to expect from Friendly's."​

The line is available at select US retailers in six varieties, including Banana Cream Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fudge, Blackberry Peach Pie, Red Velvet Cake and Pecan Praline.

Enlightened dairy-free ice cream bars

Enlightened is known for its low-calorie, better-for-you ice cream pints, both dairy and dairy-free. Now it’s expanding its vegan offerings with the launch of five new bar flavors: Salted Caramel, Mint Chip, Mocha Chocolate Chip, Monkey Business and Peanut Butter & Jelly.

The bars are made from a base of almond ‘milk’ alternative and are under 100 calories each. They are launching in the US first at select Albertsons, Safeway, HEB, Shoprite, Vons and Sprouts, with more locations coming soon.

Michael Shoretz, founder and CEO of Enlightened, said, "We're thrilled to introduce our creamy dairy-free frozen desserts in spoon-free format. With the introduction of our dairy-free pints, we began serving a whole new community, and offering our dairy-free bars was the next logical step.”​

Babybel Mini Rolls

Babybel cheese has become a snack staple in the US, and the brand is building off the product’s popularity with a new spiral format.

The Babybel Mini Rolls are a peel-able and portable cheese, packaged in resealable bags.

Iris Terolli-Hall, Babybel innovation manager, said, "Packed in a portable pouch and offering a good source of protein, kids will have fun pulling, peeling and twisting their Babybel Mini Rolls, and parents can feel good about serving a healthy and filling snack that's tasty and convenient for all occasions."​

Babybel is positioning the Mini Rolls as a challenge to string cheese, launching first in an original flavor. They contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The core line of mini Babybel cheeses comes in Original, Light, White Cheddar, Gouda, Mozzarella and Sharp Original.

Sargento Reserve Series

Sargento is incorporating a collection of premium and aged cheeses into the classic shredded and bagged market. It includes a six-month aged Gouda, a 14-month aged Parmesan, an 18-month aged cheddar and an aged Italian blend.

Stuart Manning, senior marketing manager at Sargento, said, "At Sargento, we believe that good things come to those who wait – especially cheese. Our new Reserve Series shreds are a great way to elevate your everyday meals, so what better way to try our new aged shreds than sprinkling them on the food you know and love?"​

The Reserve Series shredded cheeses are available now at nationwide retailers and join Sargento’s extensive portfolio of shredded, sliced, string and stick cheese products.

Serendipity launches Super Premium Ice Cream at 7-Eleven​    

Serendipity Brands, the company inspired by the New York City restaurant Serendipity 3, has launched a new line of super-premium ice cream, now available at participating 7-Eleven locations throughout the US.

For the first time ever, Serendipity 3 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which has been served at the restaurant more than 25m times, is available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

Eight flavors will line 7-Eleven freezer shelves, with others in development.

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate flavor ice cream is made with hot chocolate-flavored ice cream, a whipped cream swirl and chocolate shavings. 

Other flavors include: Strawberry Fields Sundae, strawberry ice cream with strawberries and cheesecake pieces; Outrageous Banana Split, banana flavored ice cream with fudge swirls, walnuts and strawberries; Birthday Cake, cake flavored ice cream with swirls of pink frosting, cake pieces and sprinkles; Forbidden Broadway Sundae, chocolate flavored ice cream with brownie pieces and fudge swirls; Café Espresso Chip, coffee ice cream with chocolate chunks; Humble Pie, peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter swirls, chocolate chunks and graham pieces; and Vanilla Vogue, vanilla ice cream flavored with Madagascar vanilla.  

Serendipity ice cream is also set to roll out to various other retailers in the coming months.