The Company: Hip Pops
The Owner(s): Matt Lindner
Episode: Season 4, Episode 3
Location: Atlanta, GA
Intro To Hip Pops
In Season 4, Episode 3 of The Profit, Marcus Lemonis visits Hip Pops — a gourmet ice cream pop company based in Atlanta, Georgia, owned and run by Matt Lindner. Hip Pops creates handcrafted ice cream pops in creative, exciting flavors that have garnered a loyal local following. The products are unique and differentiated — real craft ice cream on a stick — but the company is struggling to scale production and grow retail distribution.
Marcus immediately connects with the product — the flavors are excellent and the concept is strong. But as always, he quickly identifies that great product alone is not enough when the business fundamentals are broken.
Problems / Issues Found By Marcus
- Production capacity too small to meet growing retail demand
- No consistent manufacturing process — quality varied batch-to-batch
- Distribution strategy underdeveloped; mostly selling at farmers markets
- Packaging not retail-ready for grocery or specialty store placement
- Pricing structure didn't account for scaling costs
- Matt overextended as the sole operator, creator, and salesperson
- Lack of a defined brand identity beyond the product itself
The Financial Situation
Hip Pops had real revenue from farmers markets and some local accounts, but it wasn't growing fast enough to build a sustainable business. Production costs were high for small batch runs, and there was no clear path to profitability without a major investment in equipment and distribution infrastructure. Marcus saw this clearly and knew that without intervention, the company would plateau and eventually fade.
Marcus's Approach
Marcus focused on two priorities: upgrading production and cracking retail distribution. He arranged for new freezer and production equipment to increase batch output. He also worked on the packaging with Matt, making it shelf-ready and visually compelling enough to compete in grocery store freezer aisles.
Marcus leveraged his business network to open doors with retailers and distributors in the Southeast. He also helped Matt define the brand story more clearly — articulating what makes Hip Pops different and why consumers should care.
Did Marcus Make A Deal?
Yes! Marcus was excited about Hip Pops and made a deal with Matt Lindner. He invested capital in exchange for equity, with a clear roadmap for scaling production and expanding retail distribution beyond Atlanta. Marcus's goal was to take Hip Pops from a local curiosity to a recognized national brand in the premium ice cream segment.
Hip Pops Update – Where Are They Now?
Following the episode, Hip Pops gained significant national attention from Profit fans who sought out the product online and at local stores. The brand's social media presence grew considerably after the episode aired.
Matt worked to implement the production improvements and retail placement strategies that Marcus outlined. We'll continue to follow the Hip Pops story and update this post with the latest news as it develops.