spencer pratt’s new vegan cheese line is 40% more expensive than dairy – but it’s melting your wallet, not your grilled cheese
Ever since spencer pratt ditched his HGTV contractor persona for a plant-based empire, fans have been waiting for the payoff. But if you grabbed his new artisanal vegan cheddar off the shelf at Whole Foods, you probably noticed the sticker shock: a single block rings up at $9.99, while a standard dairy block sits at $5.99. That’s a 67% premium for a product that, according to early consumer reviews on Reddit, “smells like feet and cracks when you try to toast it.” Here’s what hurts your wallet: Pratt’s brand is using high-end ingredients like cashew cream and coconut oil to mimic texture, but food scientists say the production cost is only about 15-20% higher than mass-market vegan alternatives. The rest of that price bump is marketing—and your grocery bill is paying for his celebrity cameo on every package. Worse, since the launch, competitors like Daiya have already dropped their prices by $1.50 to undercut him, leaving early adopters holding the bag on a product that might be on sale for half price next month. Pro tip: skip the “Pratt premium” and grab a store-brand vegan shred for $3.99. Your wallet—and your taste buds—will thank you.