FROST POPSICLES, pioneers of premium alcohol-based Popsicles in South Africa, are ready to welcome the summer sun with a host of new Popsicle flavours, including the brand’s first non-alcoholic creations.
We’re thrilled with the growth we’ve seen over the past two years,” says Natasha Fagri, who created Frost Popsicles with business partner Jon-Marc De Carvalho. “When we launched in September 2016 we began with just two wine-based Popsicles – the Tranquille and Brut PJ Pops™ – selling in 26 stores in two provinces. Today we’ve expanded that to 10 Popsicle flavours available in over 50 retail outlets in three provinces, as well as through our online store.
That innovation and expansion has been driven by fast-growing demand, with South Africans clamouring for a taste of this pioneering frozen treat. The buzz has also spread beyond South African shores, says De Carvalho:
We’re exporting to Mauritius and Botswana and we’ve exported to Singapore. We are also in the process of breaking into further international markets, so watch this space!
Keeping a finger on the pulse of global and local trends has certainly helped Frost Popsicles stay ahead of the curve.
Tastes and flavour profiles are constantly evolving,” says Fagri. “We were the first, and are still the only company in South Africa creating premium alcoholic Popsicles, and each year we like to introduce new Popsicle flavour innovations based on our research and what we hope our target market will enjoy.
Frost Popsicles has certainly set the scene for an oh-so-tasty summer, with the launch of five new Popsicle flavours.
First up is the delicious Passion Fruit & Peach Margarita Popsicle, made with 100% natural peach and passion fruit flavour extracts. Providing the foundation for these bright fruity notes is the Esperanza Agave Spirit, from Hope on Hopkins. This acclaimed Cape Town distillery also created the bespoke gin for the G&T Popsicles that Frost launched in August 2017.
We really like to push the envelope with our flavour profiles, and when it comes to cocktails you can be a bit more experimental,” explains De Carvalho. “South Africans love passion fruit, and it’s complemented so perfectly by the peach and Esperanza spirit. It’s a beautiful tropical combination.
While the classic flavour profile of this fruit-driven margarita will be immediately familiar to local palates, the Blood Orange Screwdriver Popsicle pushes a few boundaries to tap into global lifestyle trends.
We don’t like to be predictable,” says Fagri. “Looking at large overseas markets, vodka is definitely the next big spirit trend. The Screwdriver is a classic cocktail that many people will be familiar with, but we wanted to add our own non-traditional twist to it.
Made with natural blood orange flavour extract, this citrus bomb – perked up by handcrafted vodka from Hope on Hopkins – will bring a dash of sexy flair to any occasion.
But perhaps most exciting is the addition of three non-alcoholic Popsicles to the Frost Popsicles portfolio – a brand new corner of the market for Fagri and De Carvalho.
The Pomegranate, Grapefruit & Hibiscus Popsicle is a sure-fire hit for hot summer days, with its rich ruby colour and refreshing sweetness neatly balanced by the fresh acidity of grapefruit juice.
Equally eye-catching is the Peach, Strawberry & Banana Popsicle. Like the Pomegranate, Grapefruit & Hibiscus Popsicle, the Peach, Strawberry & Banana is also made using pure fruit juice blends and packed with nutritional benefits; it’s a healthy frozen treat.
Last, but certainly not least, is the indulgent Vanilla Coffee Popsicle. Made using milk powder, a pure Madagascan vanilla extract and a gourmet coffee blend from Avanti Coffee, “this Popsicle tastes like a proper vanilla freezochino!” enthuses De Carvalho. “We hope everyone is going to love it as much as we do!”
The new range of ‘virgin’ Popsicles taps into fast-growing demand from the market. The Peach, Strawberry & Banana and Pomegranate, Grapefruit & Hibiscus Popsicles are a perfect option for young ones and mums-to-be, whilst the Vanilla Coffee Popsicle makes for a decadent alcohol-free treat.
Over the last 18 months we have been amazed by the number of people requesting alcohol-free versions of Frost Popsicles,” says Fagri. “If you walk into your average supermarket, often the only options contain artificial colourants, flavourants and loads of sugar.
The entire Frost Popsicles range is made from all-natural ingredients, is low in calories and contains no artificial flavourants, colourants or sweeteners. And with the exception of the Vanilla Coffee Popsicle, all other Frost Popsicles are dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
We believe that people want natural products – adds Fagri. Our aim with Frost Popsicles has always been to create a range of frozen treats but without the artificial ingredients. It is possible to create something delicious without including the nasties.
As with the current Frost Popsicles range, the new flavours are packaged in sophisticated, fully recyclable 100ml Popsicle tubes. The introduction of alcohol-free Frost Popsicles has also opened up a host of new distribution outlets.
The full range of Frost Popsicles will be available in select, existing Frost stockists in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, while the new alcohol-free Popsicles will also be available as single-flavour, four-pack cartons in select supermarkets and health stores, including Wellness Warehouse. Frost Popsicles can be ordered online by the box and full stockist details are available at www.frostpopsicles.com
