As the plant-based set in freezer aisles continues to grow, a new player has entered the scene. Nubocha, a dairy-free gelato brand, is launching nationwide, with pints now available at Sprouts Farmers Market, independent grocers, and for national shipping. The brand was co-founded by famed Italian chocolatier Gianluca Franzoni and his wife Katrina Smith, bringing the expertise of a specialty confections maker to the plant-based sector.
Rooted in simplicity and health, Nubocha is made with just three main ingredients: premium varieties of nuts or cacao; pure spring water; and allulose, a rare, zero-calorie sugar found naturally in foods like raisins, figs, and maple syrup. This recipe allows each thoughtfully sourced ingredient to shine, offering a healthier, flavorful gelato with no added sugar and less than 350 calories per pint.
Franzoni’s early passion for ingredients brought him to Venezuela, where he lived for years on cacao plantations, before launching Italy’s famed fine chocolate brand Domori in 1996. He spent two decades perfecting his chocolate-making craft and was deeply involved in every step. In the early 2000s, Franzoni met his wife, an experienced marketing and business development professional. Leveraging Franzoni’s leading expertise in sustainable farming and post-harvesting practices, the couple launched Nubocha in 2020, with the goal of reimagining one of their favorite classic Italian desserts with health and wellness in mind.
According to a press release, Nubocha combines pure spring water and creamy nut butters, and sources all if its ingredients directly from farmers and producers, and roasts and grinds its own nuts and cacao. Nubocha is 100 percent vegan, keto-friendly, Non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher-certified, and has already received several industry accolades since its launch, including being named an Editors’ Pick of the 2020 Natural Products Expo West, and a 2020 NEXTY Awards Finalist.
Nubocha is available in five flavors: Chocolate Arriba, Italian Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, and Pistachio. Sounds to me like retailers may be clearing space in the freezer aisle for five new SKUs as we speak.
