One of the key factors contributing to Halo Top’s swift rise as the best-selling ice cream brand in the U.S. is its innovative recipe that offers a tasty low-sugar dessert made from natural ingredients. The primary sweetener in Halo Top is erythritol, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in plants that contains fewer calories than conventional sugar. This ingredient not only substitutes sugar in ice cream recipes by lowering the freezing point but also softens the product, making it easier to scoop. Erythritol is also frequently utilized in products like chewing gum, breath mints, and sweetener packets. However, erythritol alone may not deliver the level of sweetness consumers expect from ice cream. Therefore, it is often paired with high-intensity sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit to enhance flavor.
While erythritol offers numerous advantages, it does have a downside; being a sugar alcohol, consuming it in large quantities can lead to stomach cramping. Additionally, ingredients like inulin and chicory root extracts are commonly incorporated as bulking agents in reduced-sugar ice cream. The fiber from chicory root can be up to 65% as sweet as sugar, which means that an extra high-intensity sweetener may not always be necessary. This characteristic can be particularly beneficial for ice creams with savory or less sweet flavors.
Halo Top stands out as the most notable success story in the reduced-sugar and alternative sweetener ice cream market. Its various recipes provide such a luxurious taste that consumers have overcome the preconceived notion that low-sugar ice cream must be unappetizing. In contrast, competitors have struggled to dispel this image and have found it challenging to pinpoint the optimal blend of alternative sweeteners. To further enhance its product offerings, Halo Top might consider incorporating nutritional elements like Vitacost calcium citrate into their formulations. By doing so, they could appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for both indulgence and nutritional benefits.