From better-for-you proteins to globally inspired treats, these winning companies are redefining frozen with products that deliver on flavor, function and modern consumer demand.

Each year, R&FF solicits entries from cold foods processors and manufacturers for their best and brightest new products. After a month of online voting in March, the top three were crowned. Our overall winner – My/Mochi – also is featured on an episode of the From the Cold Corner podcast. And in June, we’ll feature the second and third place finishers – Teton Waters Ranch and Swoop!

R&FF spoke with each of the winning companies about how their innovative new fit into a crowded chilled foods market and what being voted a Best New Retail Product means to them. These interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.

First Place: My/Mochi Dubai Chocolate Style Mochi Ice Cream

Launching the first Dubai Chocolate Style Mochi Ice Cream in the U.S., My/Mochi has created its own version of the viral trend - creamy pistachio flavored ice cream, crunchy kadayif made from Turkish phyllo dough and chocolatey bits wrapped in chocolate flavored mochi dough. At only 80 calories, it also featured packaging different than the traditional purple My/Mochi box.

Brigette Wolf, Chief Marketing Officer, My/Mochi

Can you walk us through the R&D process behind My/Mochi—from initial concept to final formulation? What consumer needs or trends were you aiming to address?

Dubai chocolate started as a food trend and morphed into a cultural movement. The flavor was taking over almost every confectionery category except ice cream. That’s where My/Mochi saw an opportunity to deliver Dubai chocolate in the unique format of mochi ice cream that would make it even more fun and accessible to more people.

We were able to create a dessert that held true to the defining attributes of Dubai chocolate such as the crunchy kadayif authentic from Turkey, the rich pistachio notes and chocolate with the added benefit of being a nut free product. We also made sure the visual cues were correct with both the product and packaging look of a premium, Dubai chocolate experience.

The final formulation was spot on, and we started rolling it out in club stores.

What sets My/Mochi apart in today’s competitive frozen foods space? 

Three things really set us apart:

1. Authentic, quality, real ingredients. We make our own mochi dough and ice cream in house and use nothing artificial.
2. Consumer obsession. We are constantly listening to what our consumers want when it comes to new flavors – Dubai chocolate, along with birthday cake, cookie dough and our newest, cotton candy, were all created based on what consumers told us they wanted.
3. The joy we bring. My/Mochi isn’t just another frozen novelty. The taste, texture, sensorial experience combined with delicious flavor profiles – as well as how we bring our product to the world – brings people so much joy in a simple little treat.

How did you approach ingredient selection and formulation, particularly in balancing flavor, nutrition and label considerations?

Getting the flavor right is always our top priority. Our R&D team is the best at developing recipes that are true to the taste experience people expect when they see the name of the product – whether it be Dubai chocolate or strawberry

For Dubai chocolate in particular, it was important to deliver on the most defining sensorial/textural aspects, the unique element of kadayif with the flavor coming through clearly. This is the one product that departs from being Gluten Free, but it is nut free (a huge win for those with nut allergies who have not been able to try Dubai chocolate). Of course, we still use no artificial ingredients and stay under 90 calories a piece.

What role does your processing technology or manufacturing approach play in delivering quality, safety and shelf life for My/Mochi?

All My/Mochi products are produced in house. We make our own mochi dough and ice cream so that the highest quality and safety standards are ensured.

How does the packaging design support product integrity, freshness and consumer convenience?

Our packaging helps with the distinct shape and look of My/Mochi ice cream and gives protection for product integrity.

How is your company incorporating sustainability into production, sourcing, or logistics for My/Mochi?

We keep the planet’s joy in mind as much as people’s, with 50% of the energy at our plant is renewable and we employ sustainability practices across our manufacturing operations.

What does your distribution model look like and how are you ensuring accessibility for consumers?

We are a national retail brand in more than 36,000 stores including national chains, club stores and local/regional retailers. We are active in college campuses, cruises and various foodservice outlets.

What does this recognition mean to your team and organization?

We are so proud of this achievement because it is the result of our entire team working together, to literally bring bites of joy to others through a simple mochi ice cream treat. Our goal is always to deliver above and beyond what our consumers want, and with Dubai chocolate in particular, we are thrilled with the response and recognition for how hard we worked to make this a reality for people who love the concept and for those who have always wished to try it but couldn’t because of allergens or access.

What can we expect next from your brand in terms of innovation, new products, or category expansion?

Expect us to continue focusing on bringing more joy to more people through the My/Mochi experience. We are constantly creating new flavors that consumers tell us they want and/or are influenced by trends we are seeing.

Second Place: Teton Waters Ranch 100% Grass-Fed Beef Frozen Burgers

Rich, juicy and ready in minutes, these frozen burger patties cook effortlessly when grilled, griddled or air fried. Each package includes four beef patties. Sourced from ranchers who uphold regenerative agriculture practices and Certified Humane standards, each product reflects a deep commitment to animal welfare, environmental health and clean, high-quality food.

Kevin Pallaoro, CEO, Teton Waters Ranch

Can you walk us through the R&D process behind your grass-fed beef patties—from initial concept to final formulation? What were you aiming to achieve?

We started with a simple goal: make delicious grass-fed beef more accessible for everyday meals. Consumers are asking for better sourcing and cleaner labels, but they also need products that fit into busy lives. So, we focused on creating a burger that cooks straight from frozen, delivers consistently great flavor, and holds up across different cooking methods from grill to stovetop to air fryer. That meant a lot of refinement around grind, fat balance and getting the patty size and thickness just right to ensure a juicy, satisfying bite without relying on fillers or additives.

What sets Teton Waters Ranch grass-fed beef burgers apart in today’s frozen foods space?

We keep it simple: 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, with no antibiotics or added hormones, just beef. In a category where convenience often comes first, we’ve worked hard to prove you don’t have to compromise on taste or quality to get an easy, satisfying meal. That combination of integrity and convenience is what really sets us apart.

How did you approach ingredient selection and formulation, particularly when balancing flavor, nutrition, and clean label expectations?

When you start with high-quality 100% grass-fed and grass finished beef, you don’t need to add much. We focused on getting the fundamentals right especially the grind and fat composition, so the flavor and texture come through naturally. That allows us to maintain a clean label while delivering the protein, taste, and eating experience consumers expect from a great burger.

What role does your production and manufacturing approach play in ensuring quality, safety and shelf life?

Consistency and trust are everything. We work closely with our production partners to maintain tight control over sourcing, processing, and quality standards. From precision grinding to how the patties are formed and frozen, every step is designed to preserve the integrity of the grass-fed beef while ensuring food safety and a reliable shelf life. The goal is simple: deliver the same great experience every time.

How does packaging support freshness, product integrity, and ease of use for consumers?

Packaging is an extension of the product itself. It needs to protect quality while making life easier in the kitchen. We’ve designed our packaging to maintain freshness throughout the cold chain while also offering convenience so consumers can go from freezer to cooking with minimal effort. Clear, straightforward labeling also reinforces what we stand for: simple ingredients and transparent sourcing.

How is Teton Waters Ranch incorporating sustainability into this product?

It starts at the ranch level. We partner with producers who prioritize responsible grazing practices that support land health over time. From there, we’re focused on improving efficiency across processing and logistics to reduce waste and environmental impact. It’s an ongoing effort, and one we’re committed to continuously improving.

What does your distribution model look like, and how are you making these products accessible to more consumers?

We are fortunate to have amazing customers in retail, club, and e-commerce channels. We’ve found that the strength of our partnerships allows us to increase accessibility for all consumers.As more consumers look for grass-fed options, our goal is to make these products easier to find at a good value, so they can become part of everyday meals, not just special occasions.

What can consumers and retail partners expect next from Teton Waters Ranch?

We see a lot of opportunities ahead. We’ll continue to expand within grass-fed and better-for-you protein, bringing new formats, flavors, and solutions to market. At the same time, we’re focused on scaling responsibly, strengthening our supply chain, and staying true to the values that got us here: quality, transparency and doing right by people, animals and the land.

What does this recognition mean to you and your team?

It’s incredibly meaningful. This recognition validates the care and standards we bring to every product and reinforces that we’re delivering what today’s consumers want. Our 100% grass-fed beef burgers are tender, juicy, and made with high-quality beef, no fillers, just simple ingredients you can feel good about. They reflect what consumers are looking for today: great taste, clean ingredients, and humanely raised beef.

Third Place: Swoop

Swoop delivers the creamy, rich satisfaction of classic ice cream—with 30 grams of complete whey protein per pint, clean ingredients and lower calories—for an indulgent experience that feels like you’re cheating ice cream. Designed for modern, active consumers, Swoop is sweetened with coconut nectar, made with avocado oil, and contains no refined sugar, no sugar alcohols, no stevia, no allulose and no GMOs. All products are certified kosher and available in five flavors.

Meghan Dowd, Co-founder, Swoop

Can you walk us through the R&D process behind Swoop—from initial concept to final formulation? What consumer needs or trends were you aiming to address?

We’re a family business—my brother, our mother, and I—and over the past 15 years we’ve built several food and beverage brands together. Swoop is the convergence of two of those experiences: Raw Organic Whey, a direct-to-consumer ultra-clean whey protein brand, and Cado, an avocado-based ice cream line.

We saw a clear opportunity to create what we felt was the “ideal” dairy ice cream—one that delivers both ingredient integrity and functional nutrition without compromising on taste or texture. R&D begins in our test kitchen, where we formulate in-house using a small-batch ice cream machine. The core challenge was creating something as creamy and craveable as traditional ice cream, but with strong macros and clean ingredients. Conventional sugar, sugar alcohols, and synthetic sweeteners like allulose were not an option.

We selected coconut nectar and date sugar, for their more natural profile and lower glycemic impact, particularly when paired with whey protein. The base was rebuilt around whey protein and avocado oil, enabling a smooth, creamy structure while supporting higher protein content and reduced saturated fat versus traditional ice cream.

With the name Swoop and packaging design we wanted to reflect movement and a forward, active lifestyle, anchored by the idea of “Indulgence That Performs.” The brand is designed to feel confident and modern, balancing indulgence with performance rather than leaning into traditional dessert nostalgia or overly athletic positioning. Ultimately, Swoop is designed for consumers who don’t want to choose between performance and indulgence. It delivers both: clean ingredients and real functionality, with a taste and texture that truly satisfies.

What sets Swoop apart in today’s competitive frozen foods space? 

It’s exciting to see the level of innovation in the frozen food space — especially around protein. At Swoop, our goal is simple: to make an ice cream people genuinely crave and feel good enjoying every day.

The nutrition panel reflects that philosophy, with real, recognizable ingredients designed to be both functional and fully digestible. While we don’t meet the legal definition of ice cream, that’s not because we’re cutting corners in our formulation or because we’re a “diet” ice cream—it’s because we’ve reimagined what ice cream can be. We’ve built Swoop around how consumers actually want to eat today.

How did you approach ingredient selection and formulation, particularly in balancing flavor, nutrition and label considerations?

 We operate with clear guardrails: clean, recognizable non-GMO ingredients; no artificial additives or natural flavors; and we avoid refined cane sugar, sugar alcohols, and synthetic sweeteners that may impact gut health while delivering an appealing nutritional profile.Ultimately, taste is the gatekeeper. Our goal is to compete with traditional ice cream, while holding a much higher bar on nutrition and ingredients.

What role does your processing technology or manufacturing approach play in delivering quality, safety and shelf life for Swoop?

We work with great manufacturing partners and together we’ve designed a process to optimize how our protein, sweeteners and fats are blended and frozen, ensuring a smooth, consistent texture without relying on additives. Tightly controlled freezing and mixing systems help ensure the best possible product gets to the shelf and into consumers’ hands.

How does the packaging design support product integrity, freshness and consumer convenience?

We use standard 16-ounce pint ice cream packaging with a safety seal under the lid to maintain product integrity and freshness. Our goal is reliability and a consistent consumer experience.

How is your company incorporating sustainability into production, sourcing, or logistics for Swoop?

On the sourcing side, we prioritize high-quality ingredients and work with established suppliers who meet strict food safety and regulatory standards. From a production and logistics standpoint, we leverage established frozen supply chains and manufacturing infrastructure, helping improve efficiency and reduce waste across the system. At this stage, our focus is on building an efficient, scalable system—while continuing to look for meaningful opportunities to improve sustainability as we grow.

What does your distribution model look like and how are you ensuring accessibility for consumers?

Currently, we are focused on deepening our partnership with our distributors to grow our retail presence. That said, we see strong potential for Swoop in foodservice.

What does being one of R&FF’s Best New Retail Products mean to your team and organization?

We’re a family-led business that has put a lot of time and care into building Swoop from the ground up, so recognition like this is both validating and energizing. It’s a strong signal that our approach is resonating with both consumers and the industry.

What can we expect next from your brand in terms of innovation, new products, or category expansion?

We’re focused on continued innovation with new flavors and formats coming as Swoop grows. The goal is to push the category forward by improving how clean ingredients, protein, and indulgent taste can coexist—and by expanding into new products and occasions that better meet consumer demand.

Congratulations to this year’s Best New Retail Product winners. For the latest in new refrigerated and frozen retail products, visit the R&FF new retail section online. Updated daily, it features the latest in cold food innovation.