An ice cream shop that has attracted a ‘cult’ following on Instagram and celebrity attention is marking a sweet milestone.
Selling more than one million ‘pops’ since its beginning, the Noosa-based ice creamery now has four stores in Queensland.
This week, Happy Pops is celebrating five years of business with its owners feeling like they are “living the dream” as they reflect on their journey so far.
Launching on Hastings Street in 2018, owner and chef Augusta Puttkammer originally wanted to open a dessert bar.
However, her husband Ian convinced her to consider an ice cream store and from there the small family business came to life.
“When we opened our first store in Noosa I made everything myself by hand while Ian handled sales during the week, with two casuals helping out in the evenings and on weekends,” Ms Puttkammer said.
“The first year was incredible, it was pretty much an instant hit. In fact, within the first week of opening we had a loyal group of customers coming back every day, it was an amazing feeling.”
In 2019, Happy Pops opened in South Bank in Brisbane and then in 2022 stores also opened at Eumundi and Mooloolaba.
“(We) now employ two chefs as well as 45 part-time and casual staff,” she said.
In 2022 Happy Pops won the coveted Australia Good Food Readers’ Choice Award and over the years notable faces have been spotted in stores and on social media with the frozen treats, including Australian model Bec Judd.
The hand-crafted gelato is made daily using natural, preservative-free and locally sourced ingredients including milk from Maleny Dairies.
Other ingredients include Belgian chocolate, homemade caramel sauce and locally sourced fruit.
Ms Puttkammer said the five years had not come without its challenges, especially as, like the rest of the world, they navigated running a business during the pandemic.
“People want a clever business answer or some sort of newsworthy anecdote but the truth is it was just a combination of really hard work and determination as well as some very supportive landlords,” she said.
“It certainly tested our resilience. Now we are just so happy to be celebrating the last five years and are so grateful to our team and the loyal happy poppers.”
The Puttkammer family now has its sights on opening stores on the Gold Coast and in Sydney, while keeping the focus on handmaking its premium gelato pops.
As part of the Happy Pops celebrations, $5 ice creams will be available from May 9 to 13 at the Noosa, South Bank, Eumundi and Mooloolaba stores.
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