Low-calorie, high-protein ice cream Halo Top has toppled Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs to earn the title of best-selling pint in the U.S., according to IRI data collected over a four-week period ending mid-July (read: peak summer). Halo Top, which launched in 2012, packs as few as 240 calories into a single pint (on par with a single scoop of standard ice creams). That, coupled with 20 grams of protein, adds up to what the company refers to as healthy, guilt-free ice cream. The secret lies in erythritol, a calorie-free sugar alcohol, and ingredients like egg whites and prebiotic fiber, which help to replicate the creamy feel of more traditional ice cream.
Halo Top saw a 2,500 percent increase in sales between 2016–2017, drawing in $132.4 million in sales and selling more than 28.8 million pints in that same period, according to IRI data. Vanilla bean remains its top-selling flavor, though hard-to-find releases like Birthday Cake and Black Cherry are most coveted among fans.
