Summer frozen launches:
- Frozen brands are prioritising convenience without sacrificing quality, developing products that travel better, prepare faster and fit changing consumer lifestyles
- Limited edition flavours, nostalgic collaborations and social media-inspired launches are helping manufacturers create excitement in an increasingly competitive frozen aisle
- Retail expansion and new formats – from toaster-ready parathas to vegan ice cream bites and premium sliders – show manufacturers are targeting more snacking occasions throughout the day
New research is putting a number on something operators and shoppers have long suspected, which is that frozen desserts have a consistency problem.
A study commissioned by Flora Professional and carried out by Censuswide, surveying 50 UK operators and 2,000 UK consumers, found that 90% of foodservice operators report quality issues caused by melting and temperature fluctuations, with more than half of operations managers saying delivery is where the trouble really bites.
Consumers are noticing the same thing from the other end of the transaction, with half of those surveyed saying they now avoid ordering frozen desserts for delivery altogether, and 39% pointing to products ‘melting too much’ as their chief complaint.
That amounts to a lot of soft-serve arriving as milkshake, and a lot of lost repeat custom for operators.
In fact, 54% believe sales would climb if quality and temperature risks were brought under control, which suggests the opportunity here is less about demand and more about how the product actually survives the journey to the customer.
Flora Professional’s own frozen dessert range is built as a 1:1 swap for dairy soft serve, giving the brand a natural stake in a category it’s positioning for growth.
The company claims a yield advantage over dairy soft serve, at roughly 35 portions per litre against 33, and a meaningfully lower carbon footprint, which gives operators watching both margins and sustainability targets a reason to look again at what’s sitting in their freezers.
This balancing act between convenience and quality runs through this week’s crop of new launches, which span continents and categories but share a common instinct, with shoppers wanting speed without having to trade away taste to get it.
Raybern’s goes small with new sliders
The deli-style frozen sandwich maker – that’s been at it since 1978 – has shrunk its signature bakery-soft bread and slow-roasted fillings down into a new line of heat-and-eat sliders.
The range launches in three varieties: Cheeseburger Smashed Sliders, made with a grilled Angus beef patty and American cheese; Birria Sliders, built from seasoned pork with bold chilli spices; and Ham & Swiss Sliders, served on a soft Hawaiian-style roll for a sweet-and-salty finish. Each slider carries 9g of protein and is ready in minutes, tapping into demand for high-protein snacking that doesn’t ask much of the cook.
“Consumers already see Raybern’s as a premium brand, and these sliders deliver on that expectation in every bite,” said Doug Hall, senior director of business development at Raybern’s. “We’ve taken everything people love about our sandwiches and packed it into a smaller, easy-to-enjoy format.”
The sliders are rolling out at Walmart stores across the US, priced at $4.68 for a four-pack, sitting alongside the brand’s existing Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.
Shana’s paratha toasties skip the pan
British frozen food maker Shana Foods has launched what it’s calling the world’s first paratha designed specifically for the toaster.
Shana Paratha Toasties are shaped to fit standard countertop toasters and cook straight from frozen in three minutes, doing away with the frying pan while still promising the flaky, layered texture and golden finish of a traditional paratha.
MD Radha Nagrecha Gagneja said the launch reflects consumers wanting food that fits their busy lives “without compromising on taste or authenticity”, adding that going from freezer to toaster in three minutes opens up new eating occasions for a familiar favourite.
Shana Paratha Toasties are available in the UK through Tesco and Ocado, in a 480g pack with an RRP of £2.75. The brand’s wider range is also stocked across Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Simply Ice Cream’s heavenly small batch
Kent-based artisan producer Simply Ice Cream makes its Heavenly Honeycomb Ice Cream using traditional hand-whisking methods and simple, natural ingredients, the kind of small-batch approach that’s become the brand’s calling card as a family-run business.
The honeycomb flavour has just picked up a Highly Commended award in the Best Frozen Product category at the Food Management Today Industry Awards, recognition that sits alongside the brand’s wider commitment to luxury ice cream made without shortcuts.
Simply Ice Cream is available across the UK.
Dippin’ Dots adds Chuck E’s Cookie Crunch
The beaded ice cream brand that has been flash-freezing its way through American freezers since 1988 has introduced Chuck E’s Cookie Crunch, an exclusive flavour created for Chuck E Cheese locations.
It’s part of a wider push from the brand, which now spans 128 US franchise locations and a distribution network reaching seven countries in total.
Of the brand’s enduring appeal with fans, VP of marketing Kimmra Hingher said “Dippin’ Dots has been part of fans’ memories for generations”.
Capri Sun’s straw becomes a popsicle mould
Capri Sun has leaned into a viral freezer trend with the launch of Straw Pops, reusable silicone popsicle moulds shaped like the brand’s signature yellow straw.
The idea taps a ritual that’s long been popular with fans: freezing a poked Capri Sun pouch into an icy treat. The new moulds let families do the same thing more neatly, simply filling them from a Capri Sun multi-serve bottle before freezing and squeezing.
Capri Sun Straw Pops are available exclusively via Walmart.com in the US, priced at $5.
Big Mozz stretches its footprint
The US frozen comfort food brand that started life as a market stall at New York’s Smorgasburg has built out its range of mozzarella sticks and nuggets made with 100% whole milk mozzarella aged for 21 days.
The brand, which says it avoids fillers and unnecessary additives, has scaled quickly since its 2023 launch and is now stocked in more than 4,500 grocery stores across the US, including Whole Foods, Wegmans, Sprouts and Harris Teeter, with a recent addition to HEB marking its biggest retail milestone yet.
Both the Original Mozzarella Sticks and Mozzarella Nuggets are designed to go from freezer to table in five to seven minutes in an air fryer, or 10-12 minutes in the oven.
Summer explodes in colour with Oreo and Chips Ahoy!
Mondelēz International has brought a festive twist to two of its best-known cookie brands.
Oreo Firecracker Pop takes its cue from the classic frozen treat, layering blue raspberry, lemon and cherry flavour creme between two golden cookies for a multi-layered take on the sandwich biscuit.
Alongside it sits Chips Ahoy! Crunchy Red, White & Blue Candy Blasts, a limited-edition version of the brand’s crunchy cookie studded with colourful chips.
Both are available in US stores while stocks last.
Perry’s debuts three scoop-shop exclusives
Family-owned Perry’s Ice Cream, based in Akron, New York, has introduced three new flavours built exclusively for its scoop shops: Prickly Pear Lime, Tropical Chili Lime, and a dairy-free Cherry Chip Oats Cream.
The latter combines a cherry-flavoured frozen dessert base with rich fudge flakes for a non-dairy option that doesn’t skimp on indulgence.
“With these new scoop shop exclusives, we set out to create flavours that feel adventurous and indulgent,” said Megan Mergler, product manager at Perry’s Ice Cream.
The new flavours are available at select scoop shop locations across New York, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and online via the brand’s website.
Over the Moo champions the freezer
The UK vegan ice cream bites brand has launched its ‘Find Love in Your Freezer’ campaign, a social and outdoor advertising push created by Dog, Cat & Mouse that celebrates the freezer’s growing role as a go-to destination for snacking.
Made with coconut milk instead of dairy and coated in dark chocolate, the lactose-friendly bites come in vanilla, caramel and chocolate varieties, each containing fewer than 30 calories.
The campaign also supports the brand’s continued retail expansion, as Over the Moo grows beyond more than 300 UK delis into mainland Europe through Continente in Portugal, enters the UAE via Kibsons, and becomes available on UK quick-commerce platform Zapp.
Hu gives summer desserts a chocolate upgrade
The better-for-you chocolate brand Hu is encouraging consumers to elevate classic summer desserts with its range of chocolate bars, bites and baking chips.
Made with simple ingredients, the products are positioned for everything from upgraded s’mores and chocolate-dipped fruit to ice cream toppings, homemade popsicles, cookies and dessert grazing boards.
Available through retailers including Whole Foods and Target across the UK, along with Amazon, the campaign highlights the versatility of premium chocolate as consumers continue to seek simple ways to make seasonal treats feel more indulgent.
