Philadelphia Cream Cheese has expanded its first plant-based spread offering nationally with two additional flavors.
As the original flavor outperforms the category, the brand will offer two new best-selling flavors as part of the nationwide launch: strawberry and chive and onion.
“To be the first mainstream cream cheese brand launching a plant-based spread option with widespread accessibility across the U.S. is an important milestone for Philadelphia and our fans,” said Keenan White, senior brand manager for Philadelphia at the Kraft Heinz Co.
“Whether on their morning bagel, a veggie pairing for lunch or a delicious dip creation for snack time, we are proud to provide consumers with a delicious product that fits their lifestyle.”
The nationwide launch comes on the heels of a successful regional test market in the Southeast U.S. last year, with 70 percent of purchasers saying the product exceeded their expectations.
Philadelphia Plant-Based spread is already claiming its stake in the category, ranking as the fourth top-performing plant-based cream cheese in the Southeast and sixth in the nation despite only being available in one region. (Plant-Based Regional Launch PFU Study, 2022-23)
“The influx of flexitarian consumers has driven growth within the plant-based market, which is now more than 20 times the size of the vegan population,” said Robert Scott, president of research and development at The Kraft Heinz Co.
“As the brand that has set the cream cheese standard for 150 years, we realized the current options weren’t meeting consumer expectations and there was no trusted leader. Philadelphia Plant-Based spread not only provides a solution that mirrors the taste and texture of our iconic Philadelphia brand, but it also reinforces Kraft Heinz’s bet to bring plant-based offerings to the masses.”
The Philadelphia Plant-Based original spread ranks as the fourth top-performing plant-based cream cheese in the Southeast and sixth in the nation despite only being available in one region.
Boasting an ingredient list free-of dairy, lactose and gluten, consumers can find Philadelphia Plant-Based spread at grocery retailers nationwide beginning in August.
Read more on the latest plant-based innovations and news from The Shelby Report.
Update: This post was originally published in December 2022 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.