TRENOS SiGINT: Little Lato Dairy-Free Mango Lassi Gelato Goes Back-to-Back

JC Analyst – August, 2025

Signal:

Little Lato, the Auckland, NZ -based boutique gelato maker, has claimed the Tetra Pak Dairy-Free Champion for the second consecutive year of the NZ Icecream Awards, with its Mango Lassi Dairy-Free Gelato. As well it picked up the New Zealand Ice Cream Association Sorbet Champion with its Little 'Lato, Chocolate Orange Sorbet.

This repeat win underlines how small-scale producers can lead the way in creativity, sustainability, and plant-based flavour innovation, even while the global market is increasingly crowded by large players.

Human Factor:

For consumers, this is about more than gelato. It’s proof that a small Kiwi brand can deliver a vegan product that feels indulgent and culturally resonant. Mango lassi is a comfort flavour across South Asia and beyond—bridging heritage with the dairy-free future. Add in Little Lato’s sustainability credentials and you’ve got a frozen dessert that resonates with both ethical eaters and flavour hunters.

TRENOS Metrics Snapshot

Field	Data Point
Signal	Little Lato wins Dairy-Free Champion (Mango Lassi Vegan Gelato, 2 years running)
Data Point	NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2025 – Tetra Pak Dairy-Free Champion
TikTok Views	<10k direct mentions; #veganicecream tag ~450M views (global context)
Retail Footprint	Boutique distribution, NZ cafés and speciality outlets
Ingredient Format	Mango, plant-based milks, dairy-free formulation
Product Range	Sorbet, gelato, dairy-free, creative flavours
Consumer Segment	Vegan, flexitarian, lactose-intolerant, sustainability-minded
Brand Origin	New Zealand (Auckland)
Export Status	Domestic focus, potential for APAC expansion
Trend Classification	Plant-Based Frozen Desserts
System Pressure Point	Rising global demand for dairy-free ice cream vs limited artisanal supply

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