Sweet Discoveries & Better For You Treats
Brand: Alec’s Ice Cream
Can our favorite treats also be better for us and better for the planet?
Sweet treats are evolving.
Today’s chocolate bars, ice creams, candies and baked goods are increasingly being made with cleaner ingredients, more thoughtful sourcing and production approaches that reduce their footprint on the planet. That might mean organic cocoa, plant-based dairy alternatives, regenerative ingredients or simpler recipes with fewer additives.
Brand: Alter Eco
The result is indulgence that still feels like a treat while aligning better with healthier lifestyles and a more sustainable food system.
Brand: YumEarth
At Seeing Green, we’re always on the lookout for brands that may be our next favorite. During our recent visit to Expo West, one of the largest gatherings of natural food providers, we explored a wide range of companies reimagining the dessert and treat aisles, from chocolate makers focused on ethical sourcing to frozen treats built on plant-based ingredients.
Many also are thinking carefully about packaging, supply chains and how their products support farmers and ecosystems along the way.
Read below (and check out the video) to see a handful of the sweet treat brands we discovered while walking the show floor. Each brings its own approach to creating desserts that are both delicious and more responsible.
As consumers continue looking for snacks and treats that feel better for them and the planet, these innovators are helping show what the future of indulgence can look like.
Here are just a few worth exploring:
7th Heaven: 7th Heaven creates creamy vegan chocolate made with oat milk and less sugar, delivering a classic milk chocolate experience without dairy
Abe’s Muffins: Abe’s offers soft, bakery-style muffins that are completely vegan and allergy-friendly, making them an easy treat for families looking for simple, inclusive ingredients
Alec’s Ice Cream: Alec’s produces rich organic ice cream made with regenerative organic dairy and thoughtfully sourced ingredients that aim to support healthier soils and farms
Alter Eco: Alter Eco crafts organic chocolate bars and truffles using fair trade cacao and regenerative farming practices that support farmers while delivering bold, indulgent flavors.
Dandies: Dandies makes fluffy vegan marshmallows that toast, melt and snack just like the classic version but without gelatin or animal ingredients
GoodPop: GoodPop creates frozen pops made from real fruit and organic ingredients, offering refreshing treats with less sugar and more recognizable flavors
GoodSAM Small Farms: GoodSAM sources ingredients like macadamia nuts, coffee and cacao directly from small farmers using regenerative practices designed to support both people and the planet
Green Girl Bakeshop: Green Girl Bakeshop produces plant-based ice cream sandwiches that combine creamy dairy-free ice cream with soft baked cookies for a nostalgic frozen treat
JoJo’s: JoJo’s blends dark chocolate with nuts and fruit to create snackable chocolate bites and bars with less sugar and more nutrient-rich ingredients.
Justin’s: Justin’s is known for its organic nut butters and chocolate peanut butter cups made with simple ingredients and responsibly sourced cacao
Majove Mallows: Mojave Mallows reinvents the classic marshmallow with creative flavors and vegan ingredients that make the nostalgic campfire treat a little more modern
Sammontana: Sammontana brings Italian-style gelato and frozen desserts made with quality ingredients and traditional techniques for a smooth, creamy experience
Whims: Whims makes chocolate and candy treats that are lower in sugar but still satisfy sweet cravings with classic flavors and indulgent textures
YumEarth: YumEarth produces organic candies and lollipops free from common allergens and artificial dyes, offering colorful sweets made with simpler ingredients