On April 24, 2024, the Michigan State University Product Center recognized several food and beverage businesses for their achievements over the past year. Protein Pints, a company founded in 2022 by two best friends who were craving a better way to consume protein, was recognized with the Young Innovator of the Year Award.
Protein Pints is a frozen dessert company that offers four flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and peanut butter chip. Each pint contains thirty grams of protein, is low-sugar and low-calorie. As of this month, you can find Protein Pints in ten Meijer Supercenter stores across the state.
Mollie Woods, director of the MSU Product Center has worked closely with the owners of Protein Pints for the past year. Woods says, “It has been such a pleasure working with Paul and Michael on their business. They are both hard-working and dedicated professionals and their product is innovative in the frozen dessert category. I am confident Protein Pints will continue to grow with great success. Our MSU Product Center Team is pleased we can lift up this business that is owned and operated by young entrepreneurs – one being an MSU student.”
When asked about receiving the Young Innovator Award, Paul Reiss and Michael Meadows, co-owners of Protein Pints commented, “We are extremely grateful to have been nominated for this from the MSU Product Center. What began as us making protein ice cream for ourselves after the gym just over two years ago, has turned into something so much more. Protein Pints is headed for 10 select Meijer Supercenters across Michigan this month. Our success is a testament not only to our exceptional team, but to the incredible support organizations in Michigan and beyond such as the MSU Product Center, MDARD, Start Garden, and many more. It goes to show that anything is possible with hard work, a good attitude, and the right mentorship. Every day is a new challenge and a lot of fun. We’re most excited to continue learning, creating, and serving others through Protein Pints.”
Protein Pints is co-owned by two best friends. Paul is a current Michigan State University student majoring in entrepreneurship in the Broad College of Business. You can purchase Protein Pints at these locations.
Be sure to follow Protein Pints on TikTok, LinkedIn and Instagram.
To learn more about Protein Pints, be sure to watch this video produced by Michigan State University.
Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan State University Product Center assist entrepreneurs and businesses in developing products and services in the food and agriculture markets. Its team of experts consults with clients on a one-on-one basis, helping new entrepreneurs navigate from concept development to launch and beyond. The MSU Product Center also offers specialized services such as labeling, packaging, and nutritional analysis. If you are interested in business counseling from the MSU Product Center, please visit our website.
This story was originally published by MSU Extension.
About the MSU Innovation Center:
The MSU Innovation Center is dedicated to fostering innovation, research commercialization, and entrepreneurial activities from the research and discovery happening across our campus every day. We act as the primary interface for researchers aiming to see their research applied to solving real-world problems and making the world a better place to live. We aim to empower faculty, researchers, and students within our community of scholars by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to bring their discoveries to the forefront. Through strategic collaborations with the private sector, we aim to amplify the impact of faculty research and drive economic growth while positively impacting society. We foster mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with the private sector through corporate-sponsored research collaborations, technology licensing discussions, and support for faculty entrepreneurs to support the establishment of startup companies.
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