6A August 16, 2013 SUN THISWEEK - Burnsville - Eagan
A frozen fruit bar to change the world Growing student-run business moves to Lakeville by Kristina Ericksen SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
St. Olaf senior Erik Brust is reluctant to call himself a CEO. “I guess that’s the title I’d give myself,” he said. Brust is studying economics at St. Olaf College, though much of his learning has been taking place outside of the classroom. In addition to being a fulltime student, the young CEO also runs a frozen fruit bar business called JonnyPops. JonnyPops are all-natural frozen fruit bars with a change-the-world mentality. Unlike most frozen fruit bars, JonnyPops are locally-made, are free of any dyes or preservatives and are made predominantly of fruit. The gourmet fruit bars come in four flavors: Summer Strawberry, Merry Mountain Berry, Coconut Pineapple Paradise and Choco-Latte. In keeping with the company’s “a better pop for a better world” philosophy, JonnyPops inscribe inspirational messages on each popsicle stick to leave customers with a positive take away. JonnyPops are the brainchild of Mahtomedi High School graduate Brust and was founded during his first year at St. Olaf when he and a few friends got to talk-
ing about entrepreneurial ideas. Brust had a desire to start a natural-foods company, an idea he thought up with his cousin Jonathan “Jonny” Jeffrey. The cousins’ dream never materialized; Jonathan, who had a full ride at Duke University, died unexpectedly from a drug overdose six months after they wrote up their business plan together. He was only 21 years old. Brust founded JonnyPops, named in remembrance of his cousin, with Ole friends Connor Wray, of Eagan; Andrew Sather, and James Marshall during their first year at school. Together they experimented with ingredients in a blender and worked with a gourmet chef to fine-tune their recipes. By their sophomore year, they were supplying frozen fruit pops to St. Olaf’s coffee shop and Hogan Brothers’ Acoustic Café in Northfield. With raving reviews and support from the community, the co-founders worked on JonnyPops throughout the school year, putting in 30-40 hours per week while balancing school work and extracurriculars. “It’s definitely a challenge many don’t have,” co-founder Marshall said. “But we’re happy to have it.”
Fortunately for its founders, JonnyPops’ busiest season is summer. All four have been working full-time the past few months and have even hired staff members to help with the growing demand.
Moving on up Since business has boomed over the past two years, JonnyPops outgrew its original Northfield location. As of this summer it operates out of Lakeville. The move allows for better accessibility to the metro area and will also be closer to home for the 20 and 21-year-olds next summer. After they graduate, all four plan to work for the company full time. Their goal is to be able to make a living off of JonnyPops. “We’re all on board and want to continue growing with the company,” Marshall said. “We all love it.” While working with three best friends may sound like a risky business move, Brust finds the partnership beneficial. “We’re all really good friends so we already had that built-in trust when we began,” Brust said. “We knew that we’d have our friendship and business relationships. They have to be separate.” Brust says the com-
Co-founder and vice president of production Andrew Sather shows a Summer Strawberry, the best-selling flavor of JonnyPops, an all-natural frozen fruit bar created by four St. Olaf students. Only a few years old, the company has already moved to a bigger space in Lakeville. JonnyPops was founded by Eric Brust and friends in memory of his late cousin Jonathan “Jonny” Jeffrey. (Photo submitted) pany has become more organized and streamlined in the past year. They’ve also narrowed their focus, hoping to expand into local co-ops and high-end grocery stores come April. Recently they’ve began selling JonnyPops in California and Alaska. The young CEO has his eyes set on the Midwest for the next expansion. For Brust, it’s also a way to remember Jonathan. “It’s a dedication to my cousin,” Brust said. “We want to help kids who are battling drug addiction.”
Fulfilling their promise to make the world better one fruit bar at a time, JonnyPops donates a portion of proceeds to the Hazelden Foundation, an addiction treatment center where Jonathan received help. It’s a chance for Brust to bring some positivity to the loss of his cousin. “We’re a feel-good company,” Brust said. “We get to see people at their best, when they’re enjoying a JonnyPop. No one’s ever mad eating ice cream.” JonnyPops are available in more than 300 lo-
cations, including Holiday gas stations, local businesses around the metro area, as well as at the Minnesota Zoo, Cascade Bay Aquatic Center and Apple Valley Aquatic Center. JonnyPops also frequents many seasonal venues such as farmers markets, the Minneapolis lakes and various summer festivals. Bars cost about $3. For more information and a listing of locations visit jonnypops.com. Email Kristina Ericksen at av.intern@ecm-inc.com.
Stolen Montana SUV recovered after cross-country journey A stolen SUV logged some long miles before it was located by Apple Valley police last week. The vehicle – a beige 2006 Lincoln Navigator – traveled more than 1,000 miles in just over a day’s time. Reported stolen Aug. 7 in Helena, Mont., it was
tracked down the following day near McAndrews Road and Galaxie Avenue in Apple Valley. According to Apple Valley police, an employee of a gas station at County Road 42 and Johnny Cake Ridge Road called 911 on Aug. 8 to report that a man driving an SUV had
pumped gas and drove off without paying. A patrol officer located the vehicle a short time later on McAndrews Road, but the driver of the SUV fled, leading police on a chase through Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville and Bloomington. During the chase in
Bloomington, police lost sight of the vehicle, and the SUV was later found abandoned on the 8700 block of Dupont Avenue. No damage to the vehicle was reported. While the suspect – a 25-year-old Worthington, Minn., man – managed to evade arrest in the police
chase, he was later arrested in Bloomington on an unrelated warrant. According to Montana-based KXLH news, the Lincoln Navigator was reported stolen Aug. 7 by a woman who’d parked it on the street near her place of employment in Helena. She had locked the vehicle,
but the keys to the SUV were stolen out of her purse sometime during the work day, she told police. On Monday, Apple Valley police were making arrangements for the owner to pick up the recovered SUV. —Andrew Miller
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