In a significant revitalization within the Latvian ice cream industry, the iconic lemon ice cream Vēsma under the Tio brand returns with a fresh identity, boasting a “retro” design alongside new, vegan-friendly offerings. This transformation comes as part of Latvia’s foremost dairy company, Food Union’s sustainability initiative, aiming to provide consumers with lighter, dairy and vegan-friendly alternatives crafted solely from fruits and berries. Recipes for the innovative products were meticulously curated at Food Union’s ice cream competence center in Riga, with an investment exceeding 40,000 euros to develop and introduce the revamped Vēsma ice creams to the Latvian market.
Ģirts Liniņš, Food Union Ice Cream Brand Manager, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “The hotter the summer, the cooler the Vēsma ice cream! And vice versa, because whatever the weather in June, July, and August, we will want to enjoy the season in any case.” Liniņš emphasized the versatility of Vēsma ice creams, perfectly aligning with consumers’ healthy lifestyle habits, whether crafted from skim cheese whey or vegan-friendly ingredients.
Expanding the Vēsma line, a new addition in a wafer cup offers a refreshing green apple flavor, catering to the rising demand for nutritionally “lighter” ice creams. Additionally, the renowned lemon-flavored Vēsma maintains its traditional recipe but with a fresh packaging update at Food Union’s main European factory, Rīgas piena kombināts, a staple since 1975.
In a bid to establish Vēsma as the premier industrially produced vegan-friendly ice cream brand in Latvia, two new fruit and berry sorbets on sticks have been introduced, crafted exclusively from plant-based ingredients. Real raspberries and mangoes feature prominently in these sorbet ice creams, appealing to consumers adhering to a vegan diet.
All four new Vēsma ice cream variants under the Tio brand are now readily available in popular stores across Latvia.
Food Union stands as the leading producer and distributor of fresh dairy products and ice cream in Latvia, encompassing Rīgas piena kombināts, Valmieras piens, and Premia FFL. Renowned for historic and widely recognized brands such as Kārums, Limbažu piens, Valmiera, Lakto, Pols, Ekselence, and TIO, the company’s expertise lies predominantly in the fresh dairy and ice cream segments. Its brand portfolio features healthy, high-value products crafted from premium quality milk sourced from over 100 Latvian farmers. The Food Union Group’s headquarters are located in Latvia, with Riga serving as the group’s ice cream development center since 2019. Annually, the Ice Cream Competence Center in Riga spearheads the creation of over 100 new ice cream varieties for the European market.
