The functional food industry has come a long way over the years, with protein, low sugar, and even health and wellness benefits making their way into all sorts of foods and formats. We’ve seen the approach expand far beyond the major US market, as well as Europe where you genuinely get the best selection of functional treats and snacks in the world. Down under in Australia and New Zealand are other places where functional has become a strong category, including the newcomer Grande.
Grande has recently made its debut in New Zealand, and it isn’t just any ordinary functional company; it’s a frozen specialist that makes protein-packed ice cream, similar to the giants Halo Top, Enlightened, and the global Nick’s. Being from New Zealand, the brand’s signature product is made with only locally sourced dairy ingredients to provide a solid 28.2g of protein in a single pint tub plus 47g of carbohydrates, a hefty amount of that is sugar at 41g, 30.8g of fat, and a total calorie count of 578.
Grande’s nutrition may seem on the high side in terms of protein-to-calorie ratio, although it’s not too far off some of the Halo Top flavors. If you scale it down to the calories from 20g of protein, you’re looking at closer to 400, which is still high, so it’s better to classify this as more of a high protein treat or better for you alternative. It still has a lot of sugar at 41g, but judging by the feedback, it may be worth it as Grande is said to deliver on taste in its first two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla Bean.
You can not buy Grande’s protein ice cream directly through its online store; you’ll have to head to one of the stockists from its growing list of partners, like NZ Muscle, Infinity Supplements, and gyms like BFT and Flex Fitness.
