Lofty Pops, a Michigan-based handcrafted ice pop company, is returning to the Detroit Zoo for its third consecutive summer while making its debut at Nick Gilbert Way. The expansion marks another milestone for the company as it continues bringing organic, allergen-friendly frozen treats to community spaces across the region.
Following a successful launch at the Detroit Zoo, Lofty Pops quickly became a standout favorite among families looking for cleaner, allergen-friendly frozen treats. What began as a local partnership has helped propel the Michigan-based brand into five Midwest zoos heading into summer 2026, marking a period of strong growth for the company.
This summer Lofty Pops is also opening at Nick Gilbert Way, a new public plaza connecting Woodward Avenue to Farmer Street between the Hudson’s Detroit building and tower, placing Lofty Pops along Lower Woodward, the city’s busiest entertainment and cultural corridor. As part of summertime programming in partnership with Bedrock, Lofty Pops will join other local vendors at the plaza on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. With major events like Movement Festival, Grand Prix and Ford Fireworks drawing thousands downtown, the location represents another significant milestone as Lofty Pops continues expanding across high-traffic destinations throughout the Midwest.
“We keep hearing from families that Lofty Pops has become their favorite go-to summer treat and that means everything to us,” said Natalie Heiter, co-founder of Lofty Pops. “Detroiters have embraced us from the beginning, so having these iconic destinations support us this summer is an honor we’re truly humbled by.”
For Detroit families, the expansion means access to something that has historically been hard to find downtown: a frozen treat that works for people with dietary restrictions. Every Lofty Pop is dairy-free, gluten-free and allergen-friendly, chef-crafted with real fruit and certified organic ingredients, and free from artificial colors and flavors. The packaging is completely plastic-free and home compostable.
This season’s lineup includes Strawberry Lemon, Orange Dreamsicle, Piña Colada, Blue Razzberry and Chocolate Fudge, among other rotating flavors.
Heiter added, “My brother and I were raised by entrepreneurial parents, and that mindset shaped how we’ve built Lofty Pops from the beginning. We’ve stayed hands-on, authentic, and deeply connected to the communities around us. As a southeastern Michigan company, seeing major destinations in our own backyard believe in what we’re building while we continue expanding nationally means so much.”
Lofty Pops is expanding to five Midwest zoos this summer and has additional regional and retail partnerships planned for the 2026 season. More information is available at loftypops.com/locations.
About Lofty Pops
Lofty Pops is a handcrafted ice pop brand founded by a brother and sister team dedicated to creating better-for-you frozen treats. Each flavor is chef-crafted using real fruit and certified organic ingredients, with no artificial colors or flavors. Lofty Pops are dairy-free, gluten-free and allergen-friendly, making them accessible to families with diverse dietary needs. Since launching in 2024, Lofty Pops has expanded to premier family destinations across the Midwest and is continuing its national growth in 2026. For more information, visit loftypops.com or follow @eatloftypops on social media.
