The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Häagen-Dazs is expanding its US portfolio with six new ice cream products as the premium brand leans into indulgence-led innovation to sustain growth in a pressured consumer environment.

The launches include take-home cartons, ice cream bars and mini formats, led by a Dark Cherry Truffle tub and Cherry Dark Chocolate bars. Other additions include Coffee Almond Toffee and Peanut Butter Brittle 14-ounce cartons, Toasted Coconut Crunch bars and Dulce de Leche mini bars.

The new flavours emphasise layered inclusions and textural contrast – a strategy increasingly used by premium ice cream brands to differentiate products and defend pricing.

Dark Cherry Truffle combines cherry vanilla ice cream with tart cherry sauce and soft cocoa truffles, while the Cherry Dark Chocolate bar pairs cherry ice cream and sauce with a dark chocolate coating, offering a balance of sweetness and acidity.

Coffee Almond Toffee features Brazilian coffee ice cream with buttery toffee pieces and California almonds. Peanut Butter Brittle blends peanut butter ice cream with praline peanuts and caramel ripples.

The Toasted Coconut Crunch bar combines coconut ice cream with milk chocolate, toasted coconut flakes and crunchy cone pieces, and the Dulce de Leche mini bars deliver a caramel-forward profile in a portion-controlled format.

The move reflects a broader strategy among premium ice cream makers to focus on value growth rather than volume, as higher input costs and cautious consumer spending continue to weigh on the wider food sector.

Richer flavours, layered inclusions and premium formats allow brands to defend margins while positioning ice cream as an 'affordable luxury'.

“This year, we’re inviting consumers to slow down and savour,” said Rachel Jaiven, head of marketing at Häagen-Dazs, adding that the new products were designed to encourage more deliberate, indulgent consumption.

Premium ice cream has remained relatively resilient compared with mass-market ranges, with shoppers more willing to trade up within discretionary categories even as they cut back elsewhere.

The expanded range also underscores the importance of format diversification, with Häagen-Dazs adding to both its core 14-ounce cartons and its mini bars range.

Portion-controlled premium products have become an increasingly important lever for manufacturers seeking to balance indulgence with moderation trends, while maintaining higher price points.

In the US, the new 14-ounce cartons are priced at $6.99, while three-count bars retail at $6.49 and six-count mini bars at $7.49, according to the company.

Häagen-Dazs operates in the US under Froneri, the ice cream-focused joint venture formed by Nestlé and private equity firm PAI Partners in 2016, with US operations run by Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream. Froneri has been expanding its premium offerings globally as manufacturers navigate rising ingredient, energy and logistics costs.