Don’t look now but some of the supermarket’s coldest categories—the refrigerated case and freezercase—are heating up with new products. On-trend tastes, flavors and forms stand out in the latest cultured products, cheeses, ice creams, milks and creamers. And not unexpectedly, they relate to protein, hot and spicy flavors, indulgence and health.

Culture Clash

Cultured products made headlines for both news and new products. This year started with news that global investors L Catterton, Greenwich, Conn., purchased Good Culture LLC, the Austin, Tex., maker of clean label, high protein cottage cheese and other offerings. Just one month earlier, The California Milk Advisory Board named Smearcase (2024 launch), a cottage cheese-based ice cream infused with collagen, as grand prize winner at the 7th Real California Milk (RCM) Excelerator product innovation competition.

Debuting at this year’s SFA Winter FancyFaire was Etelka Cottage Cream, a European-style smooth cottage cheese alternative with probiotic cultures and 18g of protein. Co-Founders Nikki Vereczkey and Karolina Vass said Etelka, New York, N.Y., was named after the Hungarian word for “nourishing.” Etelka’s Original Recipe and Hungarian Vanilla flavors launched in New York in single-serve (5.3oz) and multi-serve (16oz) sizes.

Liquid (drinkable) engineering was the way to go for Danone North America, Lifeway Foods Inc. and Stonyfield Farm Inc.

Danone launched three OIKOS FUSION products that support GLP-1 users and other weight loss consumers. Officials said a patented “Advanced FUSION Blend” combines whey protein, leucine and vitamin D. Each 7oz, 130-calorie bottle delivers 23g of complete protein, 5g of prebiotic fiber and 0g added sugar. Elsewhere, Stonyfield added Mango Apple and Cherry Apple flavors its ZeroG Added Sugar Drink, billed as “the first kids’ yogurt drink with 0g added sugar.”

Most active was Lifeway. Last year saw the Morton Grove, Ill., company introduce Muscle Mates, a ready-to-drink beverage delivering 20g of protein, 5g of creatine, and 12 live probiotic cultures. Lifeway also reintroduced Basics Plus, a line of kefir and colostrum supplement shots; and it expanded its ProBugs Kefir kids line with conventional whole milk pouches in three flavors (Creamy Orange, Goo-Berry, and Strawnana).

Got a spoon? More new product news involved spoonable cup yogurts addressing dietary nutrition, snack options and full-flavor treats. Midwest Yogurt Inc. (Lactalis USA) introduced :ratio Pro-Fiber, a four-item line of GLP-1 friendly yogurts with 20g protein, 10g fiber and zero grams added sugar. Offering more snack options was Danone, which added three bakery-inspired mix-in toppings to its Dannon Light + Lit and its OIKOS REMIX lines. New “craveable” flavors included Caramel Apple Snickerdoodle Pie, Cookies & Cream and a Berry Dark Chocolate Crisp.

Also targeting flavorful new experiences were Icelandic Provisions, The Icelandic Milk and Skyr Corporation (siggi’s) and Real Greek LLC (Ellenos). Icelandic Provisions extended its skyr line with a new Salted Caramel & Banana Extra Creamy offering. Icelandic Milk and Skyr embraced the citrus flavor trend with a new siggi’s Tropical Yuzu blend. Ellenos Greek yogurt went sweet with two new bakery flavors: Raspberry Cheesecake and Birthday Cake.

Say Cheese!

Not surprisingly, protein popped up in the cheese category—though full flavor snacking options dominated new product activity. Straddling both trends were new offerings from Lactalis USA and Bel Brands USA. Lactalis launched Kraft Natural Cheese High Protein Sticks (Mild Cheddar, Pepper Jack) with 17g protein per serving. This year saw Bel extend its Babybel line with Babybel PRO, a “protein-and-probiotics snack cheese” with 5g protein per serving and 1 billion live and active LGG® probiotics per cheese. Babybel PRO retails for $8.49 for a net of 12.

Another big brand, Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth, Wis., bolstered its Balanced Breaks line with three new Cheese + Crunch Mixes. A Monterey Jack Cheese, Buffalo Ranch Snack Mix includes Buffalo Ranch seasoned snack pretzels, roasted cashews, corn sticks toasted in bread chips, and pita chips. Other varieties are Medium Cheddar Cheese, Naturally Flavored Sour Cream & Chive Snack Mix; and a Colby-Jack Cheese, Smoky & Sweet BBQ Snack Mix.

Among others targeting snacks Saputo Cheese USA, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Agri-Mark Inc. (Cabot Creamery Cooperative) and Lidl US. Saputo extended its Frigo Cheese Heads line with Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack Snack Sticks and a “Cheddarella” (cheddar-mozzarella) String Cheese. DFA took the dip route this February with three Borden cheese dips: Queso Blanco, Nacho, and Jalapeño. Last summer saw Cabot introduce Cabot Gouda Cheese Snack Bars (8oz) for toppings, cheese boards or single-serve snacking. Speaking of gouda, Lidl Preferred Selection Gouda and Mimolette Snacking Cubes won the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) Salute to Excellence award for best new cheese offering.

Last but not least, cheese makers also brought the heat in new forms. Sargento expanded its sliced cheese line with three new flavors: Mango Habanero Jack, Smoky Hot Colby-Jack, and Carolina Reaper Jack. Tillamook County Creamery Association introduced Spicy Colby Jack Slices, Spicy Mexican Blend Farmstyle Thick Cut Shreds, Extra Sharp Triple White Cheddar Shreds, and Smoked Medium Cheddar Slices. Land O’Lakes Vermont Creamery business also introduced a “swicy” new Maple Chipotle Goat Cheese.

Frozen Assets

The ice cream category also was active for news and new products. Last July saw International Dairy Foods Association ice cream members pledge to eliminate certified artificial colors from ice cream products made with real milk. Dozens of U.S. ice cream companies promised to eliminate use of certified artificial colors Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 from their ice cream and frozen dairy desserts by 2028.

In the meantime, processors launched everything from indulgent flavors to some new takes on better-for-you desserts.

Indulgent angles were everywhere. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif., bolstered its Häagen-Dazs line with Dark Cherry Truffle, Coffee Almond Toffee and Peanut Butter Brittle 14oz ice creams. After introducing four Sundaes products in 2025, Ben & Jerry’s (The Magnum Ice Cream Co.) came back this February with three more: Straw-Bae Shortcake, PB Blondie Bestie and Mocha Mood Pie.

Other new offerings borrowed heavily on bakery category brands and flavors. Northeast brands Turkey Hill Dairy and Entenmann’s partnered for two co-branded ice cream offerings: Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies and Little Bites Fudge Brownies. Elsewhere,

Graeter's Ice Cream, Cincinnati, introduced an entire bake-shop, six-flavor collection including varieties such as Cinnamon Sticky Bunn, Caramel Pecan Cheesecake and Blueberry Lemon Crumble.

Wells Enterprises, Le Mars, Iowa, partnered with Ferrero North America to tap the power of its spreads and candy brands. Last fall, Wells used the National Association of Convenience Stores show to debut Nutella Ice Cream and Kinder Bueno Frozen Dessert.

Gelato also got in on the action. The Magnum Ice Cream Company extended its Talenti brand with Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Gelato and Paradise Passionfruit Sorbetto. PLMA honored the Kroger Company’s Private Selection Caramelized Banana Gelato with a 2025 Salute to Excellence award. Private label supplier G.S. Gelato, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., also launched a Dubai-Style Chocolate Gelato for potential customers.

Who says ice cream can’t have better-for-you benefits? Last fall saw Alec's Ice Cream, Petaluma, Calif., secure more funding after its viral sellout launch of Culture Cup, a new line of pre- and probiotic single-serve cups. In other fall announcements, Protein Pints Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., added two additional 30g protein (per pint) flavors: Cookies & Cream, and Coffee. The Magnum Ice Cream Company also took Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt into a 14oz format with five flavors. Each container delivers 19g of protein (with approximately 400 calories).

Novelties targeted indulgent snacking in all forms—including bars, sandwiches and mini bite-sized formats.

Among those “raising the bar” format were Dreyer’s and The Magnum Ice Cream Company. Dreyer’s extended Häagen-Dazs with Cherry Dark Chocolate bars. Toasted Coconut Crunch bars and Dulce De Leche mini bars. Magnum appealed to kids with new Popsicle Bluey ice pops and it borrowed ice cream expertise for five new Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bars: Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Strawberry Cheesecake, PB Pretzel and Caramel Blondie.

Those with new sandwich offerings were Casper’s Ice Cream (dba FatBoy), My/Mochi Ice Cream, Crave Better Foods, LLC and Hudsonville Ice Cream. Hudsonville partnered with McKee Foods for Little Debbie Ice Cream Sandwiches (Oatmeal Crème, Cosmic Brownie). FatBoy pushed flavor with new Cinnamon Churro and Hot Fudge Brownie ice cream sandwiches. Last summer also brought reports of My/Mochi, Los Angeles, venturing into ice cream sandwiches. For its part, Crave Better introduced “nut-rolled” Chipwich Vanilla Chocolate Almond and Brown Butter Pecan varieties—as it noted nuts historically have been absent.

Speaking of mini, bite-sized offerings, My/Mochi embraced viral flavor trends last fall with a Dubai Chocolate Style mochi ice cream. Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream, Phoenix, went seasonal with Raspberry White Chocolate, Peppermint Bark, and Salted Caramel. Salted Caramel was just one of four new flavors in a SNICKERS Ice Cream Minis line from Mars Inc. Besides original, the line includes Crunchy Peanut Butter, Almond, and M&M’s.

Fluid Situation

Milk processors played the protein card to compete more broadly in the beverage market. Meanwhile, coffee creamers expanded with new flavors and health and diet options.

At-home coffee occasions continue to fuel new creamer activity. Danone took two different approaches with coffee creamers. Last December, it launched three, limited-edition International Delight x Paris Hilton products: Raspberry Champagne (flavor) Creamer, Sweet & Spicy Creamer, and Cotton Candy Cold Foam Creamer. Separately, Danone took its Too Good & Co. yogurt brand into creamers with three lower sugar offerings, each with 40% less than other leading brands. Varieties are Sweet Cream, Roasted Vanilla, and seasonal Lavender.

Chobani LLC was quite active with two new limited-edition offerings and two permanent new flavors. Debuting early this year were limited editions of Chocolate Covered Strawberry, and a Raspberry Rose. It announced that former LTO flavor Confetti Birthday Cake became a permanent offering while new Toasted Coconut Vanilla also joined the regular line. Horizon Organic Dairy LLC, Broomfield, Colo., entered the category with Horizon Organic Real Dairy Creamers. Each features only four organic ingredients. Three flavors include Homestyle Vanilla, Chantilly Sweet Cream and Golden Caramel.

Two more creamers took better-for-you health and diet approaches. Last October saw the California Milk Advisory Board and VentureFuel name seven participating “growth-stage” companies for the 7th Annual Real California Milk “Excelerator” support program. One was Kea Wellness, Huntington Beach, Calif., which makes shelf-stable, 100% natural liquid collagen creamers that support skin health and joint wellness. In other moves, Kenvue Brands LLC, Ft. Washington, Pa., took its LACTAID lactose-free milk brand into creamers for the first time. Three new flavors are French Vanilla, Caramel, and Sweet Cream.

DFA’s Meadow Gold Dairy and Alta Dena Dairy operations were among those offering new protein milks (15g) last year. In a separate move, DFA introduced TruMoo Zero whole chocolate milk (48oz extended shelf life bottles, 64oz fresh jugs) with 13g protein and no added sugar, the company said.

Offering an interesting better-for-you approach was private label processor Midland Farms Dairy, Menands, N.Y. Last fall it launched Thr5ve 1.5 Low-Fat Milk, a product enriched with DHA Omega-3s and vitamins A and D for health benefits. It also is fortified with skim powder for enhanced flavor and mouth feel, the company said.