SHE’S A COOL MOM
LIC mother launches Smooth Pops just
BY LIZZ SCHUMER
@ESCHUMER
@LIZZSCHUMER
in time for summer
His mom, Movitzsa Simmons, couldn’t let
herself give him all that sugar and artificial
color and flavor, but she also couldn’t find
a product that gave Rock the tasty summer
treat he wanted without unnatural additives.
Thus began Smooth Pops, a 100 percent
natural product that Rock and his mom can
both enjoy, guilt-free.
The tubular Smooth Pops came about as a
nostalgia-driven answer to a common problem.
As much as Simmons loved freezie
pops as a kid, as a nutrition-savvy adult, she
couldn’t justify it for her child.
“Looking at labels as a parent, it’s scary
to know that even in natural products, companies
sneak in binders like guar gum and
xanthan,” Simmons explained. “Smooth
Pops are just simple, all-natural ingredients
with zero additives — just 100 percent whole
fruit, filtered water and organic cane sugar.”
She added that the tubular package works
great for young kids to enjoy on their own,
with less mess.
And enjoy he does! Chief tasting officer
Rock, now 2, approves all of Simmons’ creations,
22 JUNE 2 0 1 8
some of which come from old family
recipes. All Smooth Pops use the entire fruit,
including pulp, to retain flavor, texture and
nutritional value. Currently, Simmons makes
strawberry-watermelon, mango, blue-raspberry,
pineapple-peach and lemon-limeonade
flavors.
“I chose fruit blends that I love and that
give the boldest and most refreshing tastes
when combined, so with that in mind, I essentially
made all my favorites,” Simmons
said. “The lemon-limeonade is a family recipe
that is really unique and gets the perfect
balance between sweet, sour and citrus
tartness.”
As a participant in the StartUP! Business
Plan Competition administered by the
Queens Economic Development Corporation,
Simmons and other aspiring business
owners received technical assistance
and training in operations, marketing and
financial statements over an eight-month
course. At the end of the course, Simmons
took home the award in the food category,
beating out 40 other teams and winning
$10,000 to jump-start her company. The
funding helped Simmons produce and
make her Smooth Pops ready for retail. She
expects to launch her treats in time to beat
the heat this summer.
And Smooth Pops won’t stop at the kidfriendly
fruit tubes. Simmons hopes to
launch crème pops, which she called a
“HUGE hit” in test markets, as well as tea
blends and chocolate flavors.
“We also want to branch out into alcohol
and fruit-based pops — think strawberry daiquiri
with real strawberries in a pop,” Simmons
added. “Essentially, we want Smooth
Pops to be an all-natural and refreshing
snack, treat or indulgence for everyone,
anytime.”
As an entrepreneur, Simmons said she
has also learned not to fear sharing her own
ideas. By participating in the StartUP! Competition,
she consulted with others in the
industry to spread her idea and help give
birth to a solution.
“Pick one idea that really solves a problem
for you, and focus on helping others
FOOD + DRINK
It was one of those
sweltering Long
Island City days and
6-month-old Rock
Simmons needed
a cool-down treat.
He was still too young
to hold a popsicle
stick, but
a Flav-Or-Ice freezie
pop hit the spot —
until he wanted more.