Get The Scoop On NEED Ice Cream – Vegan Ice Cream You NEED To Try!

Last Updated on February 21, 2025 by Cherie

Everyone NEEDS Ice Cream, right? Meet NEED Ice Cream – South London’s vegan brand serving up dreamy sandwiches, boozy lollies & sustainable treats you NEED to try!

We’re excited to introduce our readers to NEED Ice Cream, a vibrant, South London-based company creating the most exciting and delicious vegan ice cream treats around.

As South Londoners ourselves, we’re always eager to celebrate and highlight local brands that align with our values—and NEED Ice Cream does just that. From their commitment to sustainability and fair business practices to their incredible ice cream, NEED is a brand you’ll want to keep on your radar.

Oh, and trust us when we say this, having tried their ice cream, it’s nothing short of A-MA-ZING!

Meet the Creatives Behind NEED

NEED was founded by Felix and Meret, two Swiss creatives living in South London. Dissatisfied with the watery, uninspiring vegan ice creams available on the market, they saw an opportunity to create something truly different—rich, creamy, design-led ice cream treats with fun and flavour at their core.

What started as private kitchen experiments soon evolved into a full-fledged ice cream brand.

Conceived in 2019, the business gained momentum in 2020 when Planet Organic approached the pair to bring their products to a wider market.

Before that, Felix and Meret had been selling at local farmers’ markets, charming customers with their innovative and high-quality vegan ice cream sandwiches.

The name NEED is a playful transposition of the social media comment ‘need’ as a reaction to seeing something that looks so inviting that you simply ‘need’ to have it! And who doesn’t NEED Ice Cream right?

Today, NEED’s products are stocked in some of London’s most iconic locations, including Selfridges, Planet Organic, and Daylesford Organic, as well as in independent grocers across the UK.

Why Choose Vegan Ice Cream?

The Nutritional and Ethical Benefits

Choosing vegan ice cream isn’t just about avoiding dairy—it comes with a range of benefits that make it a fantastic option for anyone looking for a tasty and ethical treat.

1. Easier to Digest

An estimated 70% of the global population is lactose-intolerant, meaning they struggle to digest traditional dairy-based ice creams. Vegan ice creams, made with plant-based alternatives like soya, coconut, or almond milk, are naturally free from lactose and much gentler on the stomach.

2. Lower Environmental Impact

Switching to vegan ice cream significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Soya-based ice creams, for example, use far less water, land, and energy than dairy-based options, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

3. Fewer Saturated Fats

Many vegan ice creams are lower in saturated fats than their dairy counterparts. While they’re still an indulgent treat, they can be a slightly lighter option.

4. Ethical and Inclusive

Vegan ice creams align with a cruelty-free ethos, as no animals are involved in their production. Additionally, they’re inclusive for those with dairy allergies or dietary restrictions, ensuring everyone can enjoy the same treat without compromise.

NEED’s products highlight all these benefits without sacrificing taste or texture.

Their ice creams are so rich, creamy, and flavourful that you wouldn’t even realise they’re plant-based unless told—making them a treat for everyone, vegan or not.

Ice Cream… All Year Round!

While January might not be the first month that comes to mind when you think of ice cream, NEED is redefining how we enjoy this classic treat. After all, ice cream isn’t just for summer!

Their inventive range—including their signature ice cream sandwiches, chocolate-covered bars, mini tubs, and even alcoholic lollies—brings fun and flavour to any season.

So, why not treat yourself to a NEED ice cream creation this winter? It’s comfort food with a twist, guaranteed to brighten your day.

Check Out Need’s Products →

Why the NEED Brand Stands Out

NEED’s ice cream isn’t just about being vegan—it’s about creating ice cream that anyone and everyone can enjoy. As Felix puts it, their products are simply delicious ice cream treats that happen to be vegan. And while being plant-based is a fantastic bonus for the environment and inclusivity, the real focus is on the flavour, fun, and quality of their offerings.

NEED has developed and produced a delicious and refreshing artisanal vegan ice cream and their commitment to joy and playfulness is reflected in the names of their ice creams, which are clever plays on words like “Thrilla in Vanilla,” “The Doctor is In,” and “Please Don’t Mango.” Ice cream is about making people smile, and the quirky product names perfectly encapsulate that spirit.

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability is a key pillar of NEED’s ethos. Their soya-based recipes produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use less water, and require less land compared to dairy ice creams – NEED Ice Cream delivers dairy-free ice cream treats for all.

All of NEED’s packaging is fully recyclable, and their cookies for the ice cream sandwiches are made in-house, ensuring everything meets vegan standards.

As a certified vegan-friendly brand, NEED demonstrates that ice cream can be delicious, ethical, and environmentally conscious all at once. A truly sustainable ice cream brand!

As part of its ethos, NEED champions plant-based innovation while ensuring its ice creams appeal to everyone. Their creations are for ice cream lovers, full stop—not just for vegans.

This philosophy ties perfectly into the annual celebration of Veganuary, a movement that encourages people to explore veganism throughout January. With so many people trying plant-based diets this month, NEED’s ice creams are a joyful way to indulge without compromising on ethics or flavour.

NEED’s commitment to vegan innovation makes them a natural fit for campaigns like Veganuary. Their products showcase how delicious and inclusive plant-based treats can be.

NEED’s Carefully Selected Ingredients

NEED’s products stand out not just because of their taste and design but also because of their commitment to using high-quality, thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

Here are some key highlights:

• Soya Milk: As the base for most of their ice creams, soya milk is both environmentally friendly and creamy, making it a perfect dairy alternative. Soya production uses 95% less land, 67% less water, and generates 68% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to dairy milk.
• Real Fruits: NEED incorporates natural fruit purees and swirls, like the tart raspberry and lime swirl in the “Coconut My Problem” ice cream bar, ensuring vibrant, authentic flavours without artificial additives.
• Premium Cocoa and Chocolate: NEED’s chocolate-covered ice cream bars and sandwiches use high-quality cocoa, which is vegan and sourced to align with its sustainability ethos.
• Natural Sweeteners: They avoid artificial sweeteners and instead rely on natural, carefully balanced ingredients to achieve the perfect level of sweetness.
• House-Made Cookies: All the cookies used in their ice cream sandwiches are baked in-house, ensuring they’re fully vegan and tailored to complement the ice cream flavours perfectly.

NEED’s Nationwide Delivery Programme

Here’s the best bit – you don’t have to be based in London to enjoy NEED’s incredible ice cream! Recognising the challenges of delivering a frozen product, the team has carefully developed a delivery system to make nationwide shipping as smooth as possible.

Using dry ice or gel packs, they ensure their ice creams arrive at your doorstep in perfect condition. They’ve also partnered with delivery companies that understand the urgency of transporting ice cream, ensuring it reaches you without melting.

Keeping It Affordable for Customers

Transporting ice cream—a frozen product—comes with unique challenges, and ensuring it arrives in perfect condition requires specialised packaging and handling. Despite these complexities, NEED is committed to keeping delivery costs as low as possible for their customers.

Standard delivery is just £4.99, and even better, it’s FREE for orders over £40.00. This means you can enjoy NEED’s premium vegan ice cream delivered straight to your door without breaking the bank.

NEED’s dedication to balancing quality and affordability extends even to their delivery system, ensuring you can indulge in their treats with ease.

So, whether you’re in the countryside, the suburbs, or anywhere in the UK mainland, you can experience NEED’s decadent ice cream sandwiches, chocolate-covered bars, alcoholic lollies and mini tubs without leaving your home.

Click the link to learn more about NEED’s delivery options;

NEED’s Delivery Options –>

A True Test of NEED’s Passion – Delivery Challenges

When Felix kindly sent me a selection of NEED’s ice cream treats, it wasn’t just an opportunity to sample their products—it was also a chance to test their delivery system, product quality and the overall end-user experience – I wanted this review to be the full experience of their processes.

A package was dispatched on 22/01/25, and I was expecting to receive it on 23/01/25. However, due to an issue with the courier, there was a delay, and the delivery finally arrived on 24/01/25.

Naturally, I braced myself for the worst—a box of melted, ruined and mushy cookies and ice cream. But to my surprise, the items inside were perfectly intact. The ice cream was still completely frozen and in pristine condition!

This is a testament to NEED’s passion and determination to ensure their products reach customers in tip-top condition, no matter the challenges of relying on third-party couriers.

The box itself was impressively well-wrapped—so much so that I considered getting my chainsaw out to cut through the packaging! With secure packaging, dry ice packs, and thermal wrapping, the team at NEED ensured the products stayed frozen during transit – even with the unexpected delay.

While delivery hiccups can happen (we have all experienced this at one time or another), NEED’s attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction ensured their products arrived exactly as intended and it’s clear that they’ve gone above and beyond to arrange a delivery system that prioritises their customers’ satisfaction.

A Review of NEED’s Vegan Ice Cream Treats

Felix’s selection of NEED’s ice creams left me very impressed and truly exceeded all expectations! From the thoughtful packaging to the incredible flavours, every detail showcased the passion and precision that goes into NEED’s plant-based frozen desserts.

Here’s a closer look at what I tried:

1. Vegan Ice Cream Sandwich – “Too Choco-late”

This chocolate lover’s dream pairs chocolate chip cookies with a smooth and rich stracciatella ice cream. Delicious if eaten singularly or both flavours at the same time.

The cookies had a wonderful crispness, giving the perfect texture contrast with the creamy ice cream. The depth of chocolate flavour was superb—a truly indulgent treat.

2. Vegan Ice Cream Sandwich – “The Doctor is In”

A standout in the range, this salted caramel vegan ice cream sandwich was elevated by the nutty, roasted flavour of peanuts and the decadence of brownie cookies. The balance of sweet and salty was spot on, and the roasted peanut flavour really shone through, making it incredibly moreish.

3. Mini Sandwich Boxes – “Thrilla in Vanilla” & “The Doctor is In”

The mini sandwiches were a bite-sized treat! The “Thrilla in Vanilla” showcased creamy stracciatella ice cream sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies, while “The Doctor is In” continued to impress with its salted caramel and peanut flavour profile. These mini sandwiches are perfect for sharing—or keeping all to yourself!

4. Vegan Ice Cream Bar – “Coconut My Problem”

This was, without a doubt, my favourite item. The “Coconut My Problem” bar features velvety coconut ice cream with a tart raspberry and lime swirl, all encased in a crisp chocolate coating. I’m a huge fan of a bounty bar, the tropical flavour of coconut, the chocolate covering etc, but this Vegan Ice cream bar was off the scale in deliciousness! And the raspberry and lime swirl was a very pleasant surprise, cutting through the sweetness and adding a refreshing zing. It was truly delicious, and at only £1.99 per bar, it’s an exceptional value for a product of such high quality.

The Pricing of NEED’s Products – Surprisingly Affordable!

One of the most impressive aspects of NEED Ice Cream is how they’ve managed to strike a balance between premium quality and affordability. Despite their bespoke quality, unique flavours, and eco-friendly ethos, NEED’s products are reasonably priced, making them accessible to a wide audience.

For instance:

• The “Coconut My Problem” ice cream bar is priced at just £1.99. With its velvety coconut ice cream, refreshing raspberry and lime swirl, and crisp chocolate coating, this bar delivers a level of indulgence you’d expect from far more expensive products.
• NEED’s Mini Tubs, such as the Raspberry Swirl Vanilla, are perfectly portioned at 110ml, offering a premium treat for under £2.00 per tub.
• Their Mini Sandwich Boxes, containing six bite-sized treats, offer exceptional value for a shareable (or not!) indulgence.
• Even the full-size ice cream sandwiches—with house-baked cookies and rich, creamy ice cream—are competitively priced for their artisan craftsmanship.

Considering the attention to detail in everything from the in-house baked cookies to the recyclable packaging, these prices are a testament to NEED’s dedication to inclusivity and fair pricing without compromising on quality.

NEED’s commitment to being an ethical, design-led brand doesn’t just extend to sustainability—it’s also about ensuring their treats are priced fairly so that more people can enjoy them.

When you compare NEED’s products to the high-end ice cream market, it’s clear you’re getting top-tier quality at an incredibly reasonable cost.

Beautiful Presentation and Thoughtful Design

In addition to their incredible taste, all of NEED’s products were beautifully presented. The bespoke packaging is visually striking and reflects the care that goes into every element of their ice cream.

Staying true to their eco-friendly ethos, all of the packaging is 100% recyclable—a detail that highlights NEED’s commitment to sustainability.

An Inclusive Treat for Everyone

As someone who isn’t vegan, I approached this review with an open mind but limited expectations, based on my past experiences with vegan products. However, NEED’s creations completely blew me away!

These ice creams aren’t just good for vegan treats—they’re outstanding ice cream products, full stop!

The flavours, textures, and overall experience were so impressive that I had to keep going back for more (purely for research purposes, of course!).

NEED has worked hard to refine every detail, from the flavour combinations to the sustainable packaging, and it shows. The fact that their products are vegan is almost incidental—it’s simply an added bonus for those conscious of the environment, animal welfare, or personal health.

If you’re someone who loves delicious ice cream, NEED has something for you. Their products are a testament to how far vegan food has come and how it can genuinely rival—or surpass—traditional options.

Other Stand-Out Products You NEED to Try

1. Mini Tub of Raspberry Swirl Vanilla Ice Cream

This mini tub is proof that good things come in small packages. NEED’s Raspberry Swirl Vanilla Ice Cream combines their signature creamy vanilla ice cream with a vibrant raspberry swirl. The tartness of the raspberry perfectly balances the sweetness of the vanilla, creating a harmonious and refreshing dessert.

At just 110ml, these mini tubs are ideal for on-the-go indulgence or portion-controlled treats. Like all of NEED’s products, it’s entirely vegan and made with natural, high-quality ingredients. The mini tub is a great option for those wanting a perfectly portioned taste of NEED’s creativity and flavour mastery.

2. Gin & Tonic Alcoholic Lollies

NEED takes the classic British love affair with gin and tonic and transforms it into a playful frozen treat. Their Gin & Tonic alcoholic lollies are a refreshing and fun way to enjoy your favourite cocktail in a new form. Made with real gin and a perfectly balanced tonic, these lollies offer a sharp, citrusy flavour profile with a delightful boozy kick.

What sets these lollies apart is their uniqueness in the ice cream and frozen dessert market.

NEED has taken a simple, beloved drink and elevated it into a sophisticated yet cheeky treat that’s ideal for dinner parties, celebrations, or just as a personal indulgence. And because they’re made with natural ingredients, you get the true taste of gin and tonic without any artificial flavours.

And the fun doesn’t stop there—NEED also offers Rum & Cola, Tequila & Lime, and other exciting flavours in their alcoholic lolly range. These treats bring the party to your freezer, making them perfect for gatherings or as a cheeky solo indulgence.

See NEED’s Alcoholic Lollies →

What’s Next for NEED?

NEED is a brand that refuses to stand still. Constantly innovating, they’re always working on exciting new products and ideas.

This January, they introduced a new line of chocolate-covered ice cream bars, offering even more indulgent options for their growing fanbase. Looking ahead to spring, the team plans to trial small chocolate-covered ice cream bites, which promise to be just as delicious and decadent as their current creations.

The goal? In the near term, Felix is keen to see NEED’s products in all major UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and alike, making them accessible to even more customers. Beyond the UK, he plans to take NEED international, starting with Europe, then expanding to the Middle East and eventually the US.

And their ambitions don’t stop there. When I asked Felix about his vision for the future of NEED, his answer was nothing short of inspiring and exciting. He envisions NEED, a beloved upmarket vegan ice cream staple, with a design-led approach that sets them apart, becoming a new Ben & Jerry’s! But with updated priorities, including a reduced environmental footprint, animal rights advocacy, and cutting-edge creativity.

This ambitious vision—taking on giants like Ben & Jerry’s while prioritising ethics, sustainability, and style—shows just how much passion and determination the NEED team brings to their work.

With their commitment to innovation and quality, there’s no doubt that NEED is well on its way to becoming a global favourite and NEED’s blend of creativity, ethics, and passion positions them as an exciting contender in the global ice cream market.

Discover NEED Ice Cream Today!

If NEED isn’t already on your radar, you NEED to try their products out!

We highly recommend you check them out and try their exceptional range. Not only are their treats a delight for your taste buds, but they also support a more sustainable and inclusive food system.

Check Out Need’s Products →

We hope that you have enjoyed our article highlighting an exciting local business – NEED Ice Cream and its fantastic line of products. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below and we will be happy to get back to you.

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