Albertsons expands Own Brands ice cream lineup

Albertsons Cos. has extended its store-brand ice cream selection with 13 new items, including plant-based frozen desserts.

Available in stores now, the new offerings are under Albertsons’ Signature Select and Open Nature brands. The Boise, Idaho-based grocer said Friday that the products hit the ice cream aisle in time for National Ice Cream Day on July 19.

The rollout includes four new 1.5-quart Signature Select ice cream varieties, led by Signature Select Unicorn Cotton Candy Ice Cream. Described by Albertsons as a “carnival in a bowl,” the “pink and blue, fluffy and creamy” ice cream has the flavor of fresh-made cotton candy, with sprinkles.

Other new varieties include Signature Select Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream with Honey Bun Swirl (with chunks of sweet cinnamon churro), Signature Select Lemon Cheesecake Ice Cream (with pieces of real lemon cheesecake) and Signature Select Black Raspberry Chip Ice Cream (with swirls of raspberry and dark chocolate chips).

Citing rising demand from dairy-free consumers, Albertsons said Open Nature has added six one-pint, plant-based frozen desserts. Three of the products are made with oat, including Open Nature Oat Non-Dairy Vanilla Caramel, Open Nature Oat Non-Dairy Oatmeal Cookie and Open Nature Oat Non-Dairy Blueberry Oatmeal Crumble.

Related:Albertsons tabs Alice Chan for Own Brands team

Three of the new Open Nature frozen plant-based desserts are made with oat, including Open Nature Oat Non-Dairy vanilla caramel, oatmeal cookie and blueberry oatmeal crumble varieties.

The new Open Nature plant-based frozen desserts — also including Open Nature Coconut Non-Dairy Toasted Coconut, Open Nature Coconut Non-Dairy Peanut Butter Chip and Open Nature Coconut Non-Dairy Chocolate Salted Caramel — will appeal to any palate and dietary choice, from the non-dairy dieters to flexitarians and to omnivores, according to Albertsons.

Three one-pint sorbets also were added to the Open Nature frozen dessert roster, including Open Nature Strawberry Sorbet, Open Nature Peach Sorbet and Open Nature Passion Fruit Sorbet.

Albertsons said the new products can be found in the frozen dessert section in selected Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market stores, as well as other Albertsons Cos. banners. Product availability varies by location, the company added.

“We’re passionate about innovating based on shoppers’ needs, desires and the latest consumer trends. With these new items, we delivered something to surprise and delight every customer,” Chad Coester, senior vice president of Own Brands at Albertsons Cos., said in a statement. “Our new ice creams and frozen desserts give a spoonful of satisfaction and excitement with each bite. And we can all use a little fun.”

Related:Albertsons highlights Own Brands via Pinterest

Own Brands expansion and innovation remain pillars of Albertsons’ overall growth strategy. The retailer reported 25.4% private-label penetration in its fiscal 2019 fourth quarter, and the company is targeting 30% penentration for its store brands over time. The Own Brands portfolio now includes about 12,000 items across nine primary brands, with four — Lucerne, O Organics, Signature and Signature Café — topping $1 billion in annual sales. In fiscal 2019, more than 900 new Own Brands products were added.