Better-for-you popsicle brand GoodPop and SmartSweets, known for its low-sugar gummies and hard candies, launched Sourmelon Pop Bites – a limited-time, bite-sized frozen novelty blending GoodPop’s viral Watermelon Pops with SmartSweets’ popular Sourmelon Bites – tapping into the growing consumer demand for snackable, portion-controlled frozen treats with an improved health profile.
Daniel Goetz, founder and CEO of GoodPop, notes a clear trend toward “poppable snacking” in frozen novelties, with consumers often breaking full GoodPops popsicles into smaller bites. He highlights that the category is evolving to offer more convenient, snack-sized portions that fit modern lifestyles.
Goetz also says he sees parallels with confectionery, where sugar reduction and better-for-you formulations influence consumer expectations.
The collaboration aims to bring similar innovation and cleaner ingredients into the frozen novelty space, offering a fresh take on classic treats, he added.
Formulation-wise, GoodPop maintained its commitment to clean ingredients and nutritional guardrails consistent with its 100% juice pops, while SmartSweets brought its expertise in low-sugar candy coatings. The result is a frozen pop bite coated in a sweet-and-sour candy dusting made from organic cane sugar and lime powder to deliver a nostalgic sour melon flavor with less sugar.
What drives a successful collaboration?
Strategically, the partnership connects two parallel audiences: families seeking lower-sugar summer treats and confectionery consumers looking for better-for-you options.
“The win-win relationship is when you have similar core consumers who aren’t aware of each other because they’re siloed in categories,” Goetz explains. The collaboration allows both brands to expand their reach while meeting shared consumer needs.
The launch was marketed heavily on Instagram to showcase the product’s visual appeal. Goetz stresses the importance of creating products that are experiential and “show up well on social” to engage consumers and propel word-of-mouth.
Both brands coordinated to ensure their respective communities were among the first to try and promote the product, he added.
Selling out in minutes
The Sourmelon Pop Bites debuted as a direct-to-consumer exclusive on GoodPop’s website, selling out in minutes for both restocks.
While GoodPop is exploring retail distribution, Goetz acknowledges the challenges frozen snack formats face in traditional grocery channels, such as maintaining product integrity during transportation and storage. The company also is looking into packaging and manufacturing innovations to address these obstacles, he added.
