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Endangered Species Chocolate expands oat milk line into baking aisle

By Anthony Myers

- Last updated on GMT

ESC's new plant-based chocolate chips. Pic: ESC
ESC's new plant-based chocolate chips. Pic: ESC

Related tags Cookie Baking Chocolate

Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) has announced it is launching its first plant-based milk chocolate chip, following success of its Oat Milk Chocolate Bars earlier this year.

The Indianapolis-based company, founded in 1993 to supply ethical chocolate, says its new chocolate chip is made with real, gluten-free oats, 55% cocoa and oat milk,

It claims its Dark Chocolate Premium Baking Chips are a better alternative with half the sugar of standard baking chips.

When we launched the Oat Milk Chocolate Bars earlier this year, the consumer response was overwhelmingly positive to the dairy-free alternative​,” said Whitney Bembenick, ESC’s director of marketing and innovation.

Customers love the lower sugar content and the sweet, creamy taste that oat milk brings to the table and with no ingredient substitutes in any of our products, it is by far the better-for-you alternative. We wanted to replicate these benefits found in the oat milk chocolate bars and bring them to the baking aisle to change baked goods for the better​.”

ESC said it looked at all options — from almond to coconut milk — when creating the new offering. Since its launch in January 2020, the Oat Milk Chocolate Bar line has been the most successful new product launch in the company’s history.

We are excited to offer Endangered Species Chocolate’s new baking chips because they offer our customers a new, plant-based chocolate chip option without compromising on flavor​,” said Chris Poling, gobal baking buyer at Whole Foods Market. “The baking chips are innovative and also fill a need for our customers looking for a lower sugar baking chip​.”

The new product is available from at Whole Foods Market stores and additional retailers nationwide, and online at www.chocolatebar.com​.