Cult ice cream brand Happy Pops is celebrating five years in business next week with $5 ice creams at its Noosa, Southbank, Eumundi and Mooloolaba stores from 9 – 13 May.
Chef and owner Augusta Puttkammer took some convincing (from husband Ian) to open an ice cream store (she favoured a dessert bar), but five years down the track, she and Ian feel like they are living the dream with four wildly successful stores in Queensland.
“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. The family-run business now employs two chefs as well as 45 part-time and casual staff,“ Augusta 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.
“We also had people contacting us about buying a franchise. Then a global pandemic arrived.”
Trading through two years of Covid while establishing the business was really challenging but it makes the celebration of five years so much sweeter.
Augusta says they’re often asked how they survived Covid.
“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.
“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,” she said.
The first five years have been incredibly busy with 1 million pops sold.
Augusta and Ian plan to continue their steady, controlled expansion, taking their time to select the right locations for future stores.
While they are approached on a weekly basis with exciting opportunities and potential new locations, they have no intention of opening in a shopping centres or franchising at this stage, preferring to stick with their core values of producing quality, handmade gelato for their growing community of loyal customers.
To celebrate five years in business, the couple is offering the entire menu of Happy Pops for the very happy price of $5 for five days from 9-13 May.
Ice-cream lovers can enjoy hand crafted gelato made daily using all natural, preservative-free and locally sourced ingredients.
