Halo Top, a brand known for its low-calorie, high-protein ice cream, announced a promotional giveaway of 80,000 free pints to celebrate the release of eight new flavors. The offer allows consumers to receive a reimbursement for the purchase of a new flavor pint, subject to specific eligibility rules, purchase dates, and geographic restrictions. The promotion is designed to introduce consumers to the brand's latest "mix-in" varieties, which feature additions such as cookie dough, brownies, and fruit pieces while maintaining the brand's signature low-calorie profile.
Promotion Details and Mechanics
According to the promotional announcement, Halo Top is offering a reimbursement for the purchase of one pint of ice cream from a selection of eight new flavors. The offer is valid for purchases made between March 11 and March 20. To redeem the offer, consumers must purchase a qualifying pint from a retailer and submit a photo of their receipt to the brand’s website at HaloTop.com/firsttaste. Upon verification, customers will receive a refund of the purchase price via PayPal or Venmo.
The reimbursement is limited to one pint per person. Participants must submit their receipts by March 23 to qualify for the deal. The brand emphasized that this initiative is intended to prove that light ice cream can be as indulgent as traditional options, stating, "Halo Top is opening the freezer aisle doors to anyone who thinks this new, light yet indulgent ice cream... is too good to be true."
Eligibility and Geographic Restrictions
A critical component of this promotion is the geographic availability. The offer is valid in all states except for California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nevada, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Consumers residing in these excluded states are not eligible to participate in this specific reimbursement program.
The New Flavor Lineup
The promotion focuses exclusively on eight new flavors designed to offer layers of texture and taste. These flavors represent a shift toward "indulgent light ice cream packed with mix-ins in every bite." The specific varieties include:
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Creamy, cookie dough-flavored light ice cream with soft, chewy cookie dough pieces and chocolatey chunks.
- Chocolate Fudge Brownie: Chocolate light ice cream filled with chewy fudge brownies and swirls of brownie batter.
- Cherry Chocolate Chunk: Black cherry light ice cream mixed with chewy Bordeaux cherry pieces and chocolatey chunks.
- Cookies & Brownies: A swirl of cookie dough-inspired light ice cream and chocolate light ice cream mixed with chewy chocolate chip cookie dough pieces and fudge brownies.
- Caramel Cookie Crunch: Caramel light ice cream swirled with thick ribbons of salted caramel mixed with chocolate-covered cookie pieces.
- Strawberry Cheesecake: Cheesecake-flavored light ice cream mixed with real strawberry pieces and graham cracker pie crust swirls.
- Sweet Cream Cold Brew: Cold brew light ice cream balanced by whipped cream swirls with coffee-flavored chocolatey chunks mixed in.
- P.B. & Cup: Peanut butter flavored light ice cream and chocolate light ice cream swirled together with chewy peanut butter cookie dough pieces and rich fudge swirls.
Brand Context and Market Position
Halo Top has established itself as a dominant player in the "healthy ice cream" market since its founding in 2012. The brand distinguishes itself by marketing to health-conscious millennials rather than traditional diet product demographics. Unlike older diet brands that were primarily marketed to women, Halo Top utilizes a strategy that encourages eating an entire pint, displaying the calorie count prominently on the packaging (approximately 490 calories per pint).
The brand's rise to becoming the top-selling ice cream in the country was achieved with minimal traditional advertising. Instead, Halo Top relied on social media word-of-mouth and influencer marketing. Fitness models and users on weight-loss forums, such as Reddit's /r/loseit and /r/1200isplenty, organically promoted the product by sharing images of freezers stocked with Halo Top pints. This grassroots approach created a loyal consumer base and caused a sea change in the market, prompting competitors like Breyer’s, Ben and Jerry’s, and Enlightened to introduce similar low-calorie, high-protein options.
The "Skeptic" Campaign Approach
In conjunction with the release of the new mix-in flavors, Halo Top identified vocal critics online and personally reached out to offer them a free first taste. The brand clarified that these interactions are not paid partnerships or promotions. The goal is to address skepticism regarding the taste of light ice cream compared to traditional, full-calorie options. By offering 80,000 free pints, the brand aims to demonstrate that their new formula, which is also a good source of protein and boasts half the calories of leading brands, delivers on the promise of indulgence without guilt.
Conclusion
The Halo Top promotion offers U.S. consumers a no-cost opportunity to trial eight new ice cream flavors. By following the reimbursement process on the brand's website and adhering to the specific purchase window and geographic restrictions, eligible participants can experience the brand's latest mix-in varieties. This initiative highlights Halo Top's ongoing strategy to dominate the low-calorie ice cream market through direct consumer engagement and product innovation.