Bute Island Foods to produce new vegan ice creams for Asda

Bute Island Foods are well known for their extensive range of vegan cheese and are the manufacturers of major supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s own-brand vegan cheese ranges.

Now the Scottish-based company, which has supplied all Asda’s dairy-free cheese since January 2018, is branching out into the world of dairy-free ice creams as it has just secured a national supply contract with Asda to produce three vegan ice creams under the retailer’s Free From brand.

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The new ice cream lines, vanilla, salted caramel and chocolate, will be available in 537, 233 and 204 stores respectively across the UK.

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Explaining the company’s move from manufacturing vegan cheeses into ice cream creation, Antonia Quither, Quality Control Manager at Bute Island Foods said in a statement sent to Vegan Food & Living: “Our focus is very much centred on offering Asda customers new, interesting, and deliciously indulgent, plant-based products. We have been developing vegan and free from cheeses since 1994, and given our expertise, the creation of a free from ice cream with inclusions such as chocolate and salted caramel was next on the list. We know people will love the ice cream as it really delivers on taste.

“The business is in a period of rapid growth to meet the increase in demand for our products and this national contract with Asda will help to create many new jobs on the Isle of Bute, which is fantastic news.”

Heather Turnbull, Asda’s Regional Buying Manager Scotland added: “At Asda we love working in collaboration with our local suppliers to create innovative products for our customers.

“We have seen continued demand for variety and newness in the free from and vegan categories, so we are really excited to bring three flavours of free from ice cream to the UK market. It is a real testament to Bute Island Foods experience and heritage in this field – the products are amazing!

Asda Free From Vanilla, Salted Caramel & Chocolate (500mls) are available to purchase from Asda now.