After a two-year hiatus, plant-based yogurt favorite Lavva is returning to US retailers.
“Lavva is worth the wait!”
Prior to the 2020 pandemic, Lavva, known for its clean-label yogurt made with pili nuts, was experiencing strong growth and gained a highly devoted fan base. But months into the COVID pandemic, the company was forced to pivot from retail to online shipping, and additional challenges brought on by the global crisis further disrupted its supply chain and production.
By 2021, Lavva’s products had largely disappeared from stores, leading many sad and disappointed fans to believe the company had permanently closed down.
Making a comeback
But Lavva devotees can rejoice again, because the company is officially back and working on re-stocking in stores. As Founder and Chief Growth Officer Elizabeth Fisher explains, Lavva is returning to bring a unique, premium yogurt to the dairy-free market.
“We relaunched in order to emphasize quality and deliver differentiated functional benefits,” Fisher tells vegconomist. “Lavva is sweet without sugar, creamy without gums, and our regenerative superhero ingredient – the pili nut – is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. No one else is culturing green plantain. We are also newly Paleo and Plantricious certified.”
New CEO and partners
In June 2022, Lavva was acquired by its lead operating partner, Next in Natural, a New York-based business development studio. Through the partnership, Jeff Lichtenstein replaced Fisher as CEO, and the company brought in several strategic investors to support its growth and innovation plans.
Lavva’s superfood yogurt, made with innovative ingredients like pili nuts, cassava, young plantains and lime, can now be found at Whole Foods in the NorthEast and Southern Pacific Regions, as well as natural food retailers Natural Grocers, Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres, Mom’s, Central Markets, Mother’s Markets, Lassens, and more. A full list can be found on the company website.
And for the loyal fans who long-awaited the return of their favorite yogurt, Fisher states: “Lavva is worth the wait! We have optimized manufacturing to bring you a highly cultured low glycemic food with all the biological nourishment of whole plants.”
