| WHO: |
Andrew Kasun of Leo’s Pops |
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| SIGNATURE PRODUCTS: | Dual flavor frozen treats with a signature crunch core center | ||
| WHERE: | Eagan, MN | ||
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WEBSITE: SOCIAL MEDIA: |
By Michelle M. Sharp of Meet the Minnesota Makers
Andrew Kasun, a self-declared mad scientist who loves to dabble in the kitchen, created the crunch core frozen treats they named Leo’s Pops for his son Leo. Leo, who navigates the world on the autism spectrum, especially loves the unique texture of their frozen treats. Firm, crunchy, and responsive foods are on his yes list. Things that are soft and mushy are a hard no.
The signature crunch of their products really appeals to Leo. “Leo is the inspiration behind both our product and our mission: to create a treat that people truly love, while building opportunities for others like Leo to develop skills and independence,” shares Andrew.
Andrew started making the pops at home as a hobby. As a group project, especially on the sampling side, it was a way for the family to connect as they debated flavor combos and colors. “The idea grew as we realized a couple of things: people outside our household genuinely liked the pops, and we had an opportunity to build a meaningful future for Leo,” reflects Andrew.
Creating a New Frozen Delight
Leo’s Pops are a layered frozen treat. The first flavor has the smooth feel of a traditional popsicle shell. The interior core reveals a second flavor with a crunchy texture. The Leo’s Pops menu is full of fruit-forward and genuinely beautiful frozen treats that made their debut this summer Wednesday nights at Eagan’s MarketFest. The treats are naturally vegan as well as gluten and dairy-free making them an accessible treat for just about anyone to enjoy. In their first season they won the taste buds of a Marketfest “popsicle fan” who declared Leo’s Pops flavor combos to be the best they’ve ever had.
The current menu includes six flavors: Electric Razz (blue raspberry shell and red raspberry crunch core), Summer Dreamin’ (strawberry shell with a lemonade core), Island Zing (pineapple shell and lime core), Citra Soda (lemon shell and lime core), Skol Pop (grape exterior and tropical fruit core), and Wa Ki Cooler (watermelon shell and kiwi core). Every flavor is made with real fruit and juice without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or dyes.
Enthusiastic is the best word to describe the feedback from their local customers. “Our customers inspire us every day to keep growing this mission,” explains Andrew. “Seeing people come back for repeat buys at our first few markets was amazing.”
Customer feedback has already shaped flavor combos and many have expressed their appreciation for the short and clean ingredient lists as well as the plant-based packaging. “We want people to know that we are constantly evolving. We are always working to improve our flavors, source better ingredients, and find ways to keep our costs down so our pops remain affordable and accessible to everyone,” says Andrew.
Building a Business
Thanks to the state’s cottage food program, Leo’s Pops can test its product concept from their home kitchen while receiving feedback from customers at farmers markets or through direct sales. “Our goal from the beginning was to establish a small business here at home where Leo could get real-world work experience, while building a nest egg to help support him down the road,” explains Andrew. “The positive feedback we’ve received so far has inspired us to think bigger. Eventually, we want to expand the business to create those same kinds of skill-building and employment opportunities for other neurodivergent individuals.”
In its first year of operation, Andrew marvels at the joy this new entrepreneurial adventure has brought him. “At first the best part of Leo’s Pops was simply seeing how much Leo enjoyed eating the frozen pops,” states Andrew. “As we grew, the joy evolved into watching Leo become actively involved in the business and helping out at the local markets. Seeing his confidence grow in those spaces is incredibly rewarding.”
Leo’s Pops describes the Eagan Marketfest as a welcoming environment, both from the customers and the other vendors. “Even though everyone is making different products, we are all part of the same community of entrepreneurs,” says Andrew. “My favorite part is just being surrounded by people who understand the grind of building something from scratch. There’s mutual respect because everyone puts their heart into what they make, and it’s great to be a part of that energy.”
Shaping their Mission
As a first year business testing a new product at their own city’s farmers market, Andrew and family didn’t know what to expect. When asked what the greatest surprise was for this first season, Andrew shared, “Honestly, it’s how quickly the business has taken on a life of its own. But the real surprise is how our mission for Leo has given the business its own momentum. It isn’t easy, and we are constantly navigating the challenges of running it, but having that core purpose makes the future feel clear and distinct.”
A powerful driver moving forward as Leo’s Pops considers next steps? “ It feels like the mission is guiding us, rather than the other way around,” reflects Andrew.
Leo will soon begin seventh grade at Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan. The Kasun Family noted how supportive and inclusive Leo’s school environment is for him. “Thinking about what life could look like for Leo beyond his school years was one of the things that pushed us to think about Leo’s Pops as more than a fun family business and toward something that could eventually provide meaningful work, skills, independence, and opportunity for him and others like him,” shares Andrew. “Underneath all the daily work of refining the product, everything we do is driven by a mission of inclusivity, love, and support for Leo and the broader special needs community.”
Get in Touch
Once the summer MarketFest season ends, Leo’s Pops would love to be a part of special events whether a family reunion or a corporate team building. Special orders will be available so that fans can still get their Island Zing or Summer Dreamin’ fix all year long. Simply email [email protected] to check availability or place an order.
View the current menu and learn more about the Leo’s Pops story at leos-pops.square.site. Follow on Facebook @LeosPops or Instagram @leopopsmn for pop ups and special events.
Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com or follow @meettheminnesotamakers on Facebook and Instagram to discover the small business owners who make Minnesota an amazing place to be. Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.
