GoodPop Expands Better-For-You Dessert Line with Frozen Oat Milk Fudge Squares

GoodPop is expanding its line of better-for-you frozen desserts with the introduction of Fudge n’ Vanilla Squares, which the company claims are the first plant-based and gluten-free frozen dessert squares. The Austin, Texas-based brand combined creamy vanilla oat milk ice cream with a chocolate fudge shell for its latest “cleaned up classics” product.

GoodPop’s Fudge n’ Vanilla Squares contain 130 calories each and have only ten grams of sugar. The squares are also kosher and made with only fair trade, non-GMO ingredients. They are available in a four-pack with a suggested retail price of $4.99 to $5.99 and can be found at Whole Foods Market locations, as well as Sprouts Farmer’s Market and online at GoodPop’s website.

“We love reinventing classic nostalgic favorites with better-for-you ingredients, which means they have a much shorter ingredient list and are allergen-friendly, but without sacrificing taste,” said Daniel Goetz, CEO and founder of GoodPop, in a press release. “We wanted to recreate a treat similar to a certain foil wrapped iconic frozen square, but with cleaner ingredients that still tastes delicious.”

Related: Danone Partners with Cold Stone Creamery for Plant-Based Dessert

To cater to a growing market and “do good in the world,” Goetz founded GoodPop in 2009 after being unable to find wholesome and delicious frozen desserts. Soon after, GoodPop’s product, frozen dessert pops, became a hit at four popular farmers markets in Austin. Since then, GoodPop’s frozen treats can be found in several natural and specialty retailers in over 40 states across the US.

GoodPop’s Fudge n’ Vanilla Squares join the brand’s robust lineup of better-for-you frozen desserts, including over ten varieties of fruit-flavored Freezer Pops and Chocolate Vanilla Sandwiches. All its products are US Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic or non-GMO, dairy-free. Additionally, all products are gluten-free and made without high-fructose corn syrups, refined sugars or sugar alcohol sweeteners. 

GoodPop is one of a handful of companies that specialize in better-for-you, plant-based frozen desserts and ice cream. So Delicious Dairy Free, which has been around since 1987, is a trailblazer in the sector as one of the first brands to make use of almonds, cashews, coconuts, oats and soy as dairy alternatives for its frozen desserts. 

Other food giants are expanding their portfolios to include plant-based frozen desserts. For example, Unilever launched its plant-based ice cream in Sweden and Finland under its Magnum brand, which is now known as Magnum Dairy Free. Similarly, ice cream brand Ben and Jerry’s has incorporated dairy-free ice cream in its product portfolio. Some other prominent players in the vegan dessert market include Danone South America, Daiya Foods Inc. and Bliss Unlimited. 

With consumers seeking more dairy-free options, the global vegan dessert market size was valued at $2.77 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1 percent from 2020 to 2027. Not to mention, plant-based desserts accounted for 35 percent of the total frozen desserts market in 2021.

Rahul Shah, president and COO of GoodPop, said in the same press release, “With plant-based novelties being the fastest growing segment in the ice cream category and consumer feedback showing demand for better-for-you frozen desserts, the time was right to take our philosophy and elevated sourcing standards to expand beyond the pop and create our version of classic ice cream squares as we continue to redefine the frozen novelties category.”