Halo Top Creamery
A lower-calorie ice cream and frozen-dessert brand known for high-protein pints, reduced sugar, and stevia- and erythritol-sweetened recipes.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Halo Top Creamery is an American ice cream and frozen-dessert brand founded by former attorney Justin Woolverton. The brand originated from Woolverton's effort to make an ice cream that contained fewer carbohydrates and less refined sugar than conventional products while remaining suitable for regular consumption. He initially developed recipes in his home kitchen, experimenting for more than a year before working with the Dairy Innovation Institute at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a contract manufacturer to refine a formula that could be produced and transported through a commercial supply chain. Halo Top launched in Los Angeles on June 15, 2012. Its core proposition was a lower-calorie alternative to traditional ice cream. The products generally combine milk, cream, eggs, milk-protein ingredients, fiber, and flavorings with sweeteners such as organic stevia and erythritol. Depending on the flavor, a pint has been marketed as containing approximately 240 to 360 calories. The brand also emphasized protein and fiber, helping it appeal to consumers interested in calorie awareness, lower sugar intake, or fitness-oriented eating. Nutrition commentators nevertheless cautioned that lower calorie content did not make the product universally healthy and that a frozen dessert remained a discretionary food. The brand's most significant growth came during the middle of the 2010s. Annual sales increased sharply in 2016 and continued rising in 2017. In July 2017, Halo Top became the best-selling ice-cream pint in United States grocery stores, overtaking established brands including Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs in that measure. By September of that year, the company reportedly had approximately 50 employees and had expanded distribution beyond the United States to several international markets. Its rise was supported by strong consumer word of mouth, prominent editorial attention, unconventional packaging and positioning, and a product concept that aligned with the growth of better-for-you and high-protein foods. Halo Top broadened its range beyond standard dairy pints. It introduced dairy-free and vegan products, later added keto-oriented pints, and developed frozen pops and mini pops. The pops extended the brand's portion-controlled proposition: the original mini pops were introduced in 2019, while larger pops followed in 2020. The brand also briefly operated physical Scoop Shops in Los Angeles, offering soft serve, scoops, sundaes, sandwiches, and toppings. Three locations opened in 2018 and closed in October 2019. The company's sales peaked in 2017 and declined during each of the following four years, according to the cited reference material. The decline occurred as large ice-cream companies and private-label manufacturers introduced competing lower-calorie and lower-sugar products. Consumer preferences during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic also shifted toward richer, premium ice creams, while the broader ice-cream category grew. On September 9, 2019, Halo Top announced the sale of its United States operations to Wells Enterprises for an undisclosed amount. Wells subsequently reformulated the low-calorie line, replacing spray-dried ultrafiltered milk proteins with liquid ultrafiltered milk. The change increased ingredient cost but was intended to reduce density, improve mixing, and create a texture closer to conventional full-fat, full-sugar ice cream. Halo Top remains a marketed frozen-dessert brand with an international presence and a portfolio spanning pints and frozen novelty products.
History
Halo Top developed from Justin Woolverton's attempt to make a lower-carbohydrate, lower-sugar ice cream for personal consumption. Woolverton, then a lawyer, tested recipes in his kitchen for more than a year. The technical challenge was not simply reducing sugar, but creating a product that could retain acceptable texture and remain stable during manufacturing, distribution, and storage. To advance the formula, he worked with the Dairy Innovation Institute at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, together with a contract manufacturer. The resulting brand launched in Los Angeles on June 15, 2012. Halo Top presented itself as a new kind of lifestyle ice cream: a product intended to provide an indulgent experience while fitting more easily into a calorie-conscious diet. Its recipes used milk, eggs, cream, protein ingredients, fiber, and flavorings, while substituting part of the sugar with organic stevia and erythritol. The company also highlighted protein and fiber, differentiating the product from conventional premium ice cream through nutrition-oriented packaging and messaging. Reviewers and nutrition experts recognized the appeal of the formulation but warned that lower calorie content should not be confused with an across-the-board health claim. The brand's growth accelerated in 2016 and 2017. The source material reports approximately 2,500 percent annual sales growth during 2016 and further increases in 2017. Halo Top's distribution expanded throughout the United States and into international markets. In July 2017, it became the best-selling ice-cream pint in United States grocery stores according to the cited account, exceeding the performance of major incumbent brands such as Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs. The company had approximately 50 employees by September 2017. Recognition from food and innovation organizations, together with extensive media coverage and consumer word of mouth, reinforced its identity as a disruptive better-for-you food brand. Halo Top expanded its portfolio in response to changing dietary preferences. It offered dairy pints alongside dairy-free and vegan lines, later added keto products, and developed single-serve frozen pops. Its original pops arrived in February 2019, and the company introduced larger Pops in May 2020 while retaining smaller products as Mini Pops. The brand also tested experiential retail through three Scoop Shops in Los Angeles. These venues sold soft serve, scoops, sundaes, sandwiches, and toppings, but all three closed on October 28, 2019. The business encountered increasing competitive pressure after its 2017 peak. Large ice-cream companies and private-label retailers introduced products with similar lower-calorie or lower-sugar positioning. The reference material states that Halo Top sales declined in each of the next four years. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers also shifted away from lower-calorie ice cream toward richer premium products, even while total ice-cream consumption increased. Halo Top reportedly experienced the steepest decline among ice-cream brands in that comparison. On September 9, 2019, Halo Top announced the sale of its United States operations to Wells Enterprises for an undisclosed sum. Under Wells, the low-calorie line was reformulated. One reported change replaced spray-dried ultrafiltered milk proteins with liquid ultrafiltered milk. The new ingredient was more expensive, but the reformulation was intended to reduce product density, improve the blend of ingredients, and deliver a mouthfeel more similar to full-fat, full-sugar ice cream. Halo Top therefore evolved from a founder-led challenger into a brand operated within a larger ice-cream company while retaining its central low-calorie and diet-conscious proposition.
- 2020
Introduces larger Pops
[1]The company launched larger frozen Pops in May, distinct from the smaller Mini Pops format.
- 2019
Introduces Mini Pops and changes ownership
[1]Halo Top launched its first frozen pops in February and announced the sale of its United States operations to Wells Enterprises in September.
- 2019
Acquisition by Wells Enterprises
[2]Wells Enterprises acquired Halo Top, making the brand part of the privately held ice cream manufacturer’s portfolio.
- 2018
Opens Los Angeles Scoop Shops
[1]The brand opened three Scoop Shop locations in Los Angeles, offering soft serve, scoops, sundaes, sandwiches, and toppings.
- 2017
Reaches leading United States grocery pint position
[1]Halo Top became the best-selling ice-cream pint in United States grocery stores in July 2017, according to the cited account.
- 2016
Rapid sales expansion
[1]The brand recorded exceptionally rapid annual sales growth during 2016, according to the cited reference material.
- 2012
Commercial launch in Los Angeles
[1]Halo Top launched in Los Angeles on June 15, 2012.
- 2012
Halo Top is founded
[2]Justin Woolverton founded Halo Top in the United States as a brand focused on lower-calorie ice cream.
- 2011
Recipe experimentation begins
[1]Justin Woolverton began developing a lower-carbohydrate, lower-sugar ice-cream recipe in his home kitchen and continued testing it for more than a year.
Products and positioning
A lifestyle-oriented, lower-calorie alternative to conventional ice cream, combining reduced sugar and calorie messaging with protein, fiber, indulgent flavors, and portion formats. The brand uses stevia and erythritol in place of some sugar and has extended its offer into dairy-free, keto, and frozen novelty products. A better-for-you frozen-dessert brand positioned around light ice cream, low calorie counts, protein content, and indulgent flavor variety.
Ice cream and frozen dessert · 2012
Dairy Pints
The core Halo Top range consists of flavored dairy pints positioned as lower-calorie alternatives to conventional ice cream. Recipes use milk, eggs, cream, protein ingredients, fiber, and flavorings, with organic stevia and erythritol replacing part of the sugar. Reported calories vary by flavor, generally ranging from 240 to 360 calories per pint.
Plant-based frozen dessert
Dairy-Free and Vegan Pints
Halo Top extended its pint portfolio with dairy-free and vegan varieties for consumers avoiding dairy or seeking plant-based options. These products preserve the brand's lower-calorie positioning while using non-dairy formulations rather than the conventional milk-and-cream base.
Special-diet frozen dessert
Keto Pints
The keto line addresses consumers following lower-carbohydrate eating patterns. It is part of Halo Top's broader strategy of adapting its pint format to specific dietary preferences while maintaining familiar dessert flavors and the brand's calorie-conscious identity.
Frozen novelty · 2019
Mini Pops
Originally launched as Halo Top Pops in February 2019, Mini Pops are smaller, portion-controlled frozen novelties. Initial flavors included Mint Chip, Peanut Butter Swirl, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Strawberry Cheesecake, with each pop reported at approximately 50 to 60 calories.
Frozen novelty · 2020
Pops
The larger Pops format was introduced in May 2020. Reported flavors include Brownie Batter, Dark Chocolate Caramel, Mint Chip, Sea Salt Caramel, and Strawberry Swirl, with each product containing approximately 90 to 110 calories.
Retail foodservice · 2018
Scoop Shop offerings
Halo Top's former Scoop Shops offered soft serve, scoops, sundaes, sandwiches, and customizable toppings in three Los Angeles locations. The physical retail experiment ended when all three shops closed on October 28, 2019.
Light ice cream · 2012
Halo Top Light Ice Cream
The brand’s core product line consists of light ice cream sold primarily in pint containers. It is associated with reduced calorie counts, protein content, and sweetening systems that have included stevia and erythritol. The range has covered a wide selection of familiar and dessert-inspired flavors, allowing the brand to combine a wellness-oriented nutritional proposition with the variety expected from packaged ice cream. Availability and formulations may vary by market. Ice cream sandwiches extend Halo Top’s light-dessert positioning beyond the pint format. They provide an individually portioned frozen treat built around the brand’s reduced-calorie and better-for-you positioning. The format is suited to consumers seeking portability or predefined portions rather than eating directly from a container. Ice cream bars are another format in Halo Top’s broader frozen-dessert portfolio. They translate the brand’s light ice cream proposition into a handheld product intended for individual consumption. Product availability, flavor selection, and formulation can differ across retail markets.
Brand decisions
2019
Sale of United States operations to Wells EnterprisesM&ABackground
Halo Top had grown rapidly but faced increasing competition from established manufacturers and private-label products with similar lower-calorie and lower-sugar propositions.
Action taken
The company announced on September 9, 2019 that Wells Enterprises had acquired its United States operations. The transaction value was not disclosed.
Aftermath
Halo Top became part of Wells Enterprises' brand portfolio. The low-calorie line was subsequently reformulated using liquid ultrafiltered milk in place of spray-dried ultrafiltered milk proteins, with the stated objective of improving texture and mouthfeel.
2019
Closure of Scoop ShopsStrategyBackground
Halo Top had opened three experimental Scoop Shop locations in Los Angeles in 2018.
Action taken
The brand closed all three shops on October 28, 2019.
Aftermath
Halo Top returned to a primarily packaged-product distribution model rather than continuing its company-operated Los Angeles shop network.
2019
Halo Top joins Wells EnterprisesM&ABackground
Halo Top had developed as a distinct low-calorie, high-protein ice cream brand, while Wells Enterprises operated as a larger privately held ice cream manufacturer.
Action taken
Wells Enterprises acquired Halo Top and added the brand to its frozen-dessert portfolio.
Aftermath
Halo Top continued as a distinct consumer brand under Wells Enterprises. No reliable public financial terms are included here.
- Expansion into dietary and portion-controlled formatsProduct launch
Background
The brand sought to serve consumers with dairy-free, vegan, keto-oriented, and portion-conscious preferences.
Action taken
Halo Top developed dairy-free and vegan pints, keto pints, Mini Pops, and larger Pops alongside its original dairy pint range.
Aftermath
The product portfolio expanded beyond the original pint format into multiple dietary and frozen-novelty segments.
Sources2 sources
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