Protein Pints Expanded Into Ice Cream Bar Market

The company has launched Protein Pops in 4,000 retail stores nationwide following a successful online debut.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Consumer Goods

Protein Pints Expanded Into Ice Cream Bar Market

Live Poll

Do you prefer buying individual snack-sized portions of desserts over buying full-sized containers?

Protein Pints has launched its new line of ice cream bars, known as Protein Pops, at Target and Kroger locations. The bars offer 10 grams of protein and range from 180 to 190 calories each.

Why it matters

The company developed these bars after receiving consistent requests from consumers for a more convenient, single-serving alternative to their traditional pints. This expansion aims to capture the market for portable, high-protein dessert options.

Protein Pops are currently available in 4,000 retail locations, while the established Protein Pints product is sold in 15,000 stores. The new bars contain 10 grams of protein and are between 180 and 190 calories.

The players

Protein Pints

This Grand Rapids-based company specializes in high-protein ice cream products and is the manufacturer of the new Protein Pops line.

Kroger

This major American retail corporation operates a large family of grocery stores across the United States.

Target

This large-scale American retail corporation operates numerous department stores throughout the country.

The details

Manufactured across three facilities, the new line features Caramel Crunch, Vanilla Crunch, Peanut Butter Crunch, and Mint Crunch flavors. The initial online launch of the product sold out in less than eight hours, with total sales exceeding company projections by 10 times.

September 13, 2026: Protein Pops entered the Kroger Family of Stores.
September 2026: The rollout of Protein Pops began at Target locations.

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Market Landscape

The launch of Protein Pops follows the broader industry trend of transforming high-protein dairy products into more portable, single-serving formats to compete for convenience-focused shoppers. By entering thousands of major retail stores, the company is directly scaling its presence against established shelf-stable and refrigerated snack competitors.

Shoppers in Grand Rapids and across the country can now find the new Protein Pops at local Target and Kroger stores. This expansion provides consumers with a single-serving high-protein dessert option that is easier to manage than traditional pint containers.

The takeaway

The rapid sell-out of the online launch indicates a high consumer appetite for portable, protein-enriched versions of traditional indulgences. Readers looking for healthier dessert alternatives may find these bars provide a convenient balance of caloric control and protein intake.