Brain Freeze Meets Business Brilliance
THE SWEET SUCCESS OF JONNYPOPS
Starting a business can be difficult, but you can relieve some of the stress and responsibility by bringing in a business partner. While this can introduce complexity, it allows you to divvy up and share vital responsibilities, brainstorm new ideas, and have a support system within the business when new obstacles arise. But finding a business partner is not necessarily easy. You have to find someone you can trust and depend on, as you’re taking on a big
Before long, JonnyPops appeared on the radar of major grocery chains and began showing up on the shelves of Kroger, Target, Walmart, and Costco. The company brought in $5 million annually but knew it could do more.
JonnyPops wanted to expand its options, exploring layered ice pops using different flavors. They explored the same machinery that competitors used but found it outdated, with
responsibility together. While you can turn to a mentor, business associate, or even a family member, sometimes the best partners are our best friends. Apple, Microsoft, Hewlett-
most from the 1980s. Brust and Wray decided they needed to take manufacturing into their own hands,
Packard, and Ben & Jerry’s are famous examples of friendships that produced business success. Now, JonnyPops is throwing its hat into the ring as it continues to grow the business and reach new heights.
opening a large factory in 2021 in Elk River, Minnesota, and filing 20
patents and trademarks. JonnyPops is now available in 27,000 stores nationwide with plenty of room for growth. Around 60% of stores nationwide have yet to sell their products.
In 2007, Erik Brust spoke with his cousin, Jonny, about their love of ice pops. They both concluded that many popular ice pops had unhealthy or unnecessary ingredients. They played around with the idea of
Whenever new brands reach this level of success, bigger food companies always look to scoop them up and add them to their product line. Experts estimate that Brust and Wray could get more than $300 million if they were to sell to Dove, Klondike, Mars, General Mills, or Unilever. Many of these brands have been looking for a healthier alternative to offer to their customer base, which makes JonnyPops a target. However, Erik Brust states, “We’re thinking about what the next decade looks like. This was never a grow-the- business-to-sell-it type of idea.” Although Brust and Wray are unlikely to sell their company, their success has also led to some negativity. Last year, GoodPop, a competitor, filed a class action lawsuit for false advertising, claiming that the JonnyPops aren’t as healthy as they claim and contain lots of sugar. JonnyPops has not commented on the ongoing litigation. JonnyPops’ story proves that the power of friendship can lead to incredible business success and millions of dollars in profit. If you work together and strive to do the best for your business and customers, anything is possible!
starting a socially responsible business that made healthier ice pop options. Jonny passed away after a battle with addiction, but Brust kept the idea alive. When he met Connor
Wray in a physics class in 2010 at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, the two hit it off and decided to bring the concept to life.
Brust and Wray started with a small-business model. They made frozen smoothies on a stick in their dorm for two years, using only a blender, strawberries, and cream. Not only were they delicious, but they had half the sugar and fat of traditional ice cream pops. After graduating from college, the duo used their profits to buy a stainless-steel ice cream machine that would allow them to make ice pops on a countertop, which they started selling at local farmers markets and other venues.
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