Rice pudding, a comforting and classic dessert, has seen a resurgence in popularity, leading to a plethora of brands vying to offer the creamiest and most delightful experience. Whether you prefer the traditional taste or enjoy a modern twist infused with unique flavors, there's no shortage of options available on the market today. From artisanal creations to household names, the battle for the best rice pudding can be a decadent journey. For those intrigued by the variety and eager to discover which brands reign supreme, their secrets await below.
Illustration of rice pudding
Best brands of rice pudding in 2025
Kozy Shack
Kozy Shack is a renowned brand in the dairy desserts industry, particularly celebrated for its high-quality rice puddings. Acquired by Land O'Lakes in 2012, Kozy Shack has maintained its reputation as a strong strategic fit within the value-added dairy foods portfolio, with estimated revenues of $110 million at the time of acquisition. Their Simply Well Rice Pudding offers a no-sugar-added option with 90 calories per serving, while the Original Recipe Rice Pudding contains 130 calories and 11g of added sugars per 1/2 cup serving. The brand is known for its simple ingredients and gluten-free products, making it a favorite among consumers. Kozy Shack's products are widely available and have a guaranteed shelf life of 30 days.
Müller
Muller is a leading producer of rice pudding, known for its high-quality and creamy desserts. The brand dominates the market for rice pudding, fresh dairy drinks, and basic dairy drinks, with a market share exceeding 60% in these areas. Muller Rice Protein, launched in 2021, contains 14g of protein per pot, more than double the protein content of the core Muller Rice range, and is available in low-fat, chocolate, and vanilla variants. The brand's strong market position and innovative products, such as Muller Rice Protein, have solidified its reputation as a trusted and favored dairy brand. Muller's commitment to adding taste to life and inspiring healthier lifestyles is reflected in its extensive range of branded yogurts and desserts.
Ambrosia
Ambrosia, a renowned brand in the UK, has been a leading producer of rice pudding since its inception in 1917. Known for its creamy and indulgent products, Ambrosia expanded its Deluxe range in 2023, introducing new lines such as West Country Cream and Madagascan Vanilla, which have been well-received by consumers. The Deluxe Custard line, for instance, achieved £2.7m in retail sales value by the end of 2022. Ambrosia's products are popular for both dessert and snacking occasions, catering to consumer demand for premium yet affordable options. The brand is currently owned by Premier Foods and continues to innovate and expand its market presence.
Rice to Riches
Rice to Riches is a renowned brand for its high-quality rice pudding, made with simple and natural ingredients such as milk, rice, sugar, eggs, and cream. Since 2003, they have successfully shipped their products across the country, using custom-designed packaging with frozen gel packs to maintain ideal refrigerated temperatures during shipping. Their rice pudding is hand-crafted in small batches daily, and they offer various container sizes, from 6oz to 80oz. The brand ensures freshness by making, packing, and shipping the pudding on the same day. Despite the higher shipping costs due to overnight delivery and specialized packaging, Rice to Riches remains a popular choice for its delicious and fresh rice pudding.
Gü
Gu, though not specifically known for rice pudding, is a leading chilled dessert brand in the UK, with a strong focus on premium treats. The brand aims to double its global business by 2025, driven by a £4.5m investment in brand, innovation, and people. With sales of over £70m, Gu is set to launch new products and a refreshed brand identity to appeal to consumers seeking more indulgent treats than traditional ice cream or chocolate. Gu's growth strategy includes introducing new desserts, such as the Gu Inspirations Brookie, and enhancing its brand positioning to capture a larger market share. Despite the dominance of supermarket own-labels in the category, Gu remains a significant player. For more details on their marketing strategies, you can read this article on Marketing Week.
Lactalis Nestlé
Lactalis and Nestle, although not a combined brand, are significant players in the dairy and dessert markets. Nestle, in particular, is a major producer of various dairy products, including rice pudding, and has seen growth in certain segments despite some market share losses. For instance, Nestle's dairy culinary solutions have shown robust growth, and the company has a strong presence in e-commerce, with 18.2% of its total group sales coming from online channels as of 2024. The demand for healthier dessert options, such as low-calorie rice pudding, is driving innovation and growth in this market segment, with North America and Europe being key regions. However, specific data on Nestle's rice pudding sales is not provided in the sources.
Turkish Kitchen
Turkish Kitchen is renowned for its exquisite rice pudding, particularly the traditional Turkish dessert known as firin sutlac, which is a staple in Turkish cuisine. This baked rice pudding is made with fresh whole milk, slow cooking, and constant stirring, ensuring a creamy and comforting treat. With its rich history and widespread popularity, Turkish Kitchen's rice pudding is a favorite among both adults and children, offering a healthy dessert option with approximately 393 calories per serving. The use of high-quality ingredients, such as fresh milk, contributes to its unique flavor and texture. This dessert is often served chilled and can be adapted to be weight-loss friendly by using skimmed milk and low-calorie sweeteners. You can find more information about Turkish-style baked rice pudding online.
Nordic Ware
Nordic Ware, though not specifically known for rice pudding, is a renowned brand in the kitchenware industry, particularly famous for its Bundt pans and other quality cookware products. Founded in 1946 by Dotty and Dave Dalquist, the company started with a handful of specialty Scandinavian cookware items and has since expanded to hundreds of products. Nordic Ware is still family-owned and operated, with three generations involved, and its products are distributed globally. While they do not produce rice pudding, their kitchenware, such as saucepans, could be used to prepare it. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation makes their products a staple in many kitchens. For more insights into their heritage, visit the Nordic Ware Heritage page.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's, although no longer offering their popular rice pudding, was once renowned for this dessert, which was discontinued in 2021. The rice pudding, kept in the refrigerated section, contained simple ingredients like rice, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, and was highly praised for its convenience and flavor. Despite its discontinuation, Trader Joe's continues to offer other cool and frozen desserts, such as the Non-Dairy Vanilla Bean Oat Frozen Dessert. The rice pudding's loyal following is evident from the numerous pleas on social media for its return. However, the company has not announced any plans to reinstate this product. For more information on discontinued items, visit the Trader Joe's discontinued products list.
Bonne Maman
Bonne Maman, although primarily known for its high-quality preserves and jams, is also recognized for its contribution to the dessert market, including chilled desserts. However, it is not specifically highlighted as a leading producer of rice pudding. Instead, Bonne Maman is best known for leading the UK conserve market and gaining share in chilled desserts and yogurt. The brand's success is attributed to its simple, wholly natural products. As of recent data, Bonne Maman has significant success in the UK market but does not specifically dominate the rice pudding segment.
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published.