Sugar-free icy poles hit the market just in time for summer

A 36-year-old entrepreneur with a focus on health has his sights firmly set on growing the sugar-free icy pole market in Australia from a standing start.

Melburnian David Andrew has launched a range of icy poles, Sugar Free-zies, now available in Woolworths supermarkets nationally.

Sugar Free-zies contain no sugar, artificial colours or preservatives. The product launched in October this year and was quickly backed for national distribution by supermarket giant Woolworths, generating $200,000 in sales in the first month.

Sugar Free-zies is taking on market leader Zooper Dooper which declined to comment on whether it had plans for a sugar-free version and how sales were tracking in Australia.

Sugar Free-zies, which contain sugar-alternative stevia, have been an instant hit with fed-up parents wanting a healthy alternative and the diabetic community.

“We want to remove 500 tonnes of sugar from Australian kids’ diets every year, without them missing out on icy poles. I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of positive responses from Australian parents since Sugar-Free-zies have been in production.”

Determined to have Sugar Free-zies made in Australia, Andrew has invested $750,000 to import machinery to manufacture the icy poles in Melbourne. Read more

Nina Hendy - Brisbane Times - 30 Dec 2018