Startup CPG Newswire:
From Shroomsicles to Benni Pops: A Santa Cruz Brand Gets a Fresh Start (With a Cinnamon Twist)

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Katie Sarna for Benni Pops

SANTA CRUZ, CA (May 2025) — Shroomsicles® is out, and Benni Pops™ is in. The beloved Santa Cruz frozen pop brand has officially rebranded with a new name, revamped recipes, and vibrant new packaging. The result? A frosty dessert that is brimming with as much deliciousness as it is with joy and intention.

“We knew we had something special, but the original name was holding us back,” said co-founder Katie Sarna. “We’re hardcore mushroom people, so it made sense to us—but we quickly realized that when people hear ‘shroom,’ they think they’re about to eat a frozen portobello on a stick or go on an interstellar adventure. Spoiler: they’re not doing either.”

What’s New:

→ Rebrand complete: Benni Pops has dropped Shroomsicles and emerged with a new identity, elevating its mission with bright visuals, an adorable (slightly chaotic) coconut mascot, and clearer product messaging.

→ Upgraded recipes: Every frosty pop has been reformulated for a more indulgent experience—still dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and made with the highest-quality 100% organic ingredients.

→ Flavor spotlight: Their newest release, Cinnamon Roll, tastes like the real thing—creamy, sweet, and perfectly spiced. It joins their refreshed lineup: Fudge, Strawberry Mint, Orange Vanilla, Latte, and Coconut Lime Pie.

→ Sustainability forward: All pops remain wrapped in 100% home-compostable packaging—a rarity in the frozen aisle. The film is made from plant-based bioplastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch and sugarcane, and decomposes in about 12 weeks under proper aerobic composting conditions.

→ Now at Pinterest HQ: Benni Pops were recently picked up as an employee perk in the Pinterest San Francisco cafeteria.

Benni Pops is the delicious evolution of everything they’ve learned along the way. From day one, the journey has been fueled by curiosity, creativity, and the pursuit of better-for-you food.

“What started as a passion project farming mushrooms has grown into something we never could have imagined,” shares co-founder Paul Lazazzera. “We’re so stoked to be making healthy desserts that literally put smiles on people’s faces.”

If you tried their frosty pops back in the Shroomsicles days, it’s time to come back. They’re creamier, dreamier, and truly next level.

About Benni Pops

Benni Pops was founded by husband-and-wife team Katie Sarna and Paul Lazazzera after a decade in the fungi world. What began as a creative way to use up extra mushrooms from Paul’s farm quickly became a mission to make functional frozen desserts that nourish and delight.

The duo began crafting pops in 2023—each one spotlighting an adaptogen like lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, or reishi to support focus, balance, and immune health (without tasting “mushroom-y”).

Benni Pops are handcrafted in Santa Cruz, California the real way—in small batches by humans, not machines—using organic, dairy-free ingredients and home-compostable packaging.

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