‘Secret’ New Vegan Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Now at Target

‘Secret’ New Vegan Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Now at Target

Ben & Jerry’s secretly launched a new vegan ice cream flavor at Target.

Called Chocolate Salted ‘n Swirled, Ben & Jerry’s new dairy-free ice cream features a chocolate almond milk base swirled with chocolate sandwich cookies and salted caramel. A Ben & Jerry’s representative confirmed that the flavor is exclusive to Target.

“When salty meets sweet & chunk meets swirl, it’s more than your average love story: it’s a non-dairy flavor you can bank all your forevers on, with dreamy chocolate, salted caramel, & chocolate cookies. It can’t wait to meet your parents,” says the website.

The Vermont-based brand first launched vegan ice cream in four flavors in February 2016. Ben & Jerry’s flavor guru Kirsten Schimoler told Forbes at the time that the company tested more than 60 versions of certain flavors while perfecting the recipe.

Ben & Jerry’s newest nondairy flavor combines vegan cookies with salted caramel and chocolate

The new launch brings the total number of vegan Ben & Jerry’s ice cream pints on offer up to 12. Four-packs of mini cups featuring the nondairy flavors Chunky Monkey and Chocolate Fudge Brownie are also available.

Last April, the multinational ice cream giant introduced a new vegan treat: cookie dough bites.

“Ever since we introduced nondairy in 2016, our fans have been clamoring for more,” said Ben & Jerry’s flavor guru Sarah Fidler. “The biggest challenge this time was creating a chocolate chip cookie dough flavor that stood up to the original. I think we nailed it.”

Vegan Ice Cream Gets Cool

Vegan ice cream is becoming increasingly mainstream, with experts predicting that the global market will reach $1 billion by 2024. The interest is attributed to consumers seeking healthier alternatives to traditional dairy-based ice cream.

The report also credits mainstream brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Swedish Glace in Europe with making vegan ice cream more appealing to new customers.

Other big name ice cream brands that have launched dairy-free options in recent years include Magnum, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyers. Target launched vegan almond milk ice cream through its private label brand, Archer Farms, last October. The range features seven flavors: Cashew Caramel, Caramel Brownie, Vanilla Cake & Cookie Dough, Mocha Almond Fudge, Strawberry & Fudge, Peanut Butter & Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean.

Ben & Jerry’s new vegan flavor is now available at Target stores nationwide.