Push Pop's plastic tube holds the lollipop in place with a twist mechanism at the base, so kids push the candy upward instead of unwrapping it, a format Topps borrowed directly from lipstick packaging.
Where the Format Came From
Topps launched Push Pop in the mid-1980s, riding the same novelty-format wave that gave us Ring Pop and, later, Baby Bottle Pop. Rather than inventing a new flavour, Topps repackaged a standard hard lollipop inside a reusable plastic case with a twist-up mechanism, borrowing the visual language of a lipstick tube.
Why the Mechanism Works
- Less mess — no stick to hold, and sticky hands stay in the tube rather than on fingers.
- Portion control — kids can push up as much or as little of the lollipop as they want and twist it back down to save the rest.
- Reusable case — the tube can be refilled or kept as a toy long after the candy is gone.
Push Pop vs Traditional Lollipops
A standard lollipop delivers all its flavour on a stick in one sitting. Push Pop's twist mechanism turns the same hard candy into something closer to a toy, which is part of why it sits alongside other novelty sweets rather than classic boiled sweets, and remains a popular pocket money treat.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Push Pop?
A Push Pop is a lollipop moulded to fit inside a plastic tube with a twist-up base, so pushing the stick from underneath raises the candy up like a tube of lipstick.
Who made Push Pop?
Push Pop was created by the Topps Company and launched in the mid-1980s, part of the same wave of novelty format candy that produced Ring Pop and Baby Bottle Pop.
Why is the twist-up mechanism popular with kids?
The push-up tube keeps hands clean, lets kids control how much lollipop is exposed, and turns eating candy into a small mechanical action, adding play value beyond the sweet itself.