Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc.

What Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc. does

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc. is a woman-owned, handcrafted popcorn company founded in 2014 by Ginger Frank in Asheville, North Carolina. The company produces small-batch popcorn using real, all-natural, non-GMO ingredients across a portfolio of more than 20 year-round and limited-edition flavors spanning sweet (Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan, Cappuccino, Funnel Cake, Cotton Candy), savory (White Cheddar, Pimento Cheese, Jalapeno Cheddar, Dill Pickle, Mexican Street Corn), and signature combinations such as the Asheville Mix. Manufacturing is artisanal rather than automated at scale, with the Asheville Mix Artist Bag program — featuring rotating local artwork and a quarterly nonprofit partner — functioning as a community-driven signature product that has raised over $110,000 since 2020.

The company operates a hybrid distribution model. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce runs on Shopify at poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com, supported by Smile.io loyalty (Pop Points) and Klaviyo email/SMS marketing, with product pricing from $3.50 (snack bags) to $126 (The Full Collection). Wholesale distribution reaches thousands of doors across national and regional grocery (Whole Foods, Wegmans, Ingles, The Fresh Market, Lowes Foods), hospitality (Hilton, Marriott, Omni, Crowne Plaza), and specialty retail (Total Wine & More, Hallmark, Lands' End), with Faire marketplace onboarding for new retailers. A Corporate & Event Gifting program provides group gifting up to 1,000 recipients, custom branded packaging at 500+ bag minimums, and volume-based discounts, representing a deliberate move into B2B gifting revenue. Pricing is fully publicly disclosed.

Poppy raised a $3 million Series A round led by JACS Capital in March 2023, with former GE CEO Jeff Immelt joining the advisory board at the same time. Proceeds were earmarked for manufacturing capacity and technology investment. The company employs 51-100 staff, has not pursued M&A or secondary funding rounds since, and has no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or public listing. Earned media coverage spans Forbes, Food Network, GQ, BuzzFeed, Real Simple, Good Morning America, Tasting Table, and Parade.

Name

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc.

Legal name

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc.

Website

https://poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn is a woman-owned artisanal popcorn brand founded in 2014 in Asheville, NC, selling 20+ handcrafted, non-GMO flavors through DTC e-commerce, national wholesale, hospitality partnerships, and corporate gifting programs to consumers, retailers, and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gourmet Popcorn

NAICS

Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Popcorn & Puffed Snacks (CRADABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Popcorn Manufacturing (AFAKAIAC)

Keywords

• Handcrafted popcorn snacks
• Gourmet popcorn gifting
• Artisanal flavored popcorn
• Corporate snack gifting
• Wholesale snack distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Revenue from direct-to-consumer online sales through poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com. Products include individual popcorn bags ($6.95-$13.50), gift sets ($16-$126), snack bags ($3.50), and merchandise. Sales are one-time transaction-based with repeat customer potential through loyalty program.
2. Corporate Gifting & Bulk Orders: Revenue from corporate event gifting, bulk orders (minimum 5 cases), and custom branded packaging (500+ full bags or 250+ snack bags). Volume discounts of 10-15% apply for larger orders. Custom bag orders start at $12 per unit with design fees.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from wholesale orders through direct wholesale accounts and Faire marketplace to retail partners. Retailers include grocery chains, hotels, and specialty stores nationwide.
4. Gift Cards: E-gift cards and physical gift cards sold in various denominations, providing flexible gifting options for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn manufactures and sells small-batch, hand-crafted gourmet popcorn in 12+ sweet and savory flavors sold as individual bags, snack-size bags, and curated themed gift sets. The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (Shopify), wholesale distribution to grocery and hospitality partners, and a corporate gifting program with custom branded packaging.

Product overview

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc. is a woman-owned gourmet popcorn company founded in 2014 in Asheville, NC, offering a portfolio of hand-crafted, all-natural popcorn products. The core offering consists of 10+ year-round popcorn flavors (both sweet and savory) sold as individual bags, snack-size bags, and curated gift sets. The product portfolio includes signature sweet flavors (Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan, Cappuccino, Funnel Cake, Cotton Candy), savory flavors (White Cheddar, Pimento Cheese, Jalapeno Cheddar, Dill Pickle, Mexican Street Corn), and specialty items like the Asheville Mix (combining White Cheddar and Salted Caramel) and the community-focused Asheville Mix Artist Bag. Product formats span individual bags, snack bags, themed gift sets (The Full Collection, The Core Classics, The New Favorites, Summer Series Trio), merchandise (tote bags, puzzles), gift cards, and corporate gifting services. The company operates a Pop Points loyalty program, Build-a-PopBox customization tool, wholesale distribution via Faire, and corporate/event gifting services with custom branding options. In March 2023, Poppy secured $3 million in Series A funding led by JACS Capital.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Salted Caramel Popcorn Handmade gluten-free, non-GMO caramel popcorn made with real butter, Celtic Sea Salt, and molasses. Poppy's most popular signature flavor for individual consumers and gift recipients.
• Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan Popcorn Bourbon-flavored popcorn tossed with caramelized Southern pecans and natural cinnamon, marketed as a sweet-and-toasty Southern treat.
• Cappuccino Popcorn Coffee-infused popcorn combining the Salted Caramel base with creamy cappuccino flavor for a dessert-like treat.
• Funnel Cake Popcorn Carnival-style popcorn coated with vanilla and dusted with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg; gluten-free and all-natural.
• Cotton Candy Popcorn Light, sweet popcorn made with real sugar and naturally pink plant-based color, evoking a nostalgic carnival treat.
• White Cheddar Popcorn Creamy, cheesy savory popcorn made with non-GMO popcorn and real cheddar cheese powder.
• Pimento Cheese Popcorn Southern-inspired cheesy popcorn with bold pimento flavor, cheddar cheese powder, sour cream, and a hint of jalapeño and cayenne.
• Jalapeño Cheddar Popcorn

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $110,000 raised for local Asheville nonprofits since 2020 through Artist Bag program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HARK (Helping At Risk Kids)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Current quarterly nonprofit partner for the Asheville Mix Artist Bag program. HARK supports children and families in Buncombe County, North Carolina experiencing housing instability, foster care placement, and other challenges. Partner rotates quarterly to support different organizations.
• Jeff ImmeltminorOthers · 2 March 2023Former GE CEO Jeff Immelt joined Poppy as an advisor and advisory board member in March 2023 following the company's Series A funding. Provides strategic guidance for business growth.
• Annie RikercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Asheville artist Annie Riker created the original artwork for the Asheville Mix Artist Bag, featuring hand-drawn illustrations. The Artist Bag program is a signature product offering with community giving component.
• Asheville City Schools FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Initial nonprofit partner for the Artist Bag program beginning in 2020, providing fundraising support for students and families through Asheville school partnerships.
• FaireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale marketplace partner for retail onboarding. Offers eligible retailers free shipping for one year, 60-day payment terms, and free returns on first order.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pipcorn Snacks: Pipcorn is a direct competitor in the premium, non-GMO, small-batch popcorn and popped snack category, sharing Poppy's artisanal flavor and D2C gifting positioning. Both target gifting consumers and natural food retailers with heirloom/specialty ingredients.
• Lesser Evil Popcorn: Lesser Evil is a D2C and retail CPG brand focused on organic, clean-ingredient popcorn and snacks with unique flavors. Comparable to Poppy in product positioning (organic/clean label), flavor innovation strategy, and natural foods channel distribution.
• Garrett Popcorn Shops: Garrett is a heritage Chicago-based gourmet popcorn brand famous for handcrafted caramel corn and cheesecorn mixes. Highly comparable as a giftable, small-batch, flavored popcorn brand with retail storefronts, e-commerce gifting, and a long-standing premium reputation.
• Quinn Snacks: Quinn is a better-for-you popcorn and snack brand with a family-founders story and clean-ingredient product line. Comparable to Poppy in D2C + natural retail distribution, premium positioning, and limited-edition flavor development.
• Popcorn Indiana: Popcorn Indiana is a gourmet popcorn brand offering kettle corn, cheese, and caramel varieties in retail multipack formats. Comparable as a flavored gourmet popcorn CPG competing in grocery/snack aisles and D2C.
• The Popcorn Factory: The Popcorn Factory is a leading gourmet popcorn gifting brand with strong corporate and personal gifting programs. Direct overlap with Poppy's gift set / corporate gifting / direct-to-consumer gifting motion and flavor variety strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP: Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP is a leading mass-market popcorn brand owned by Conagra with broad retail distribution and a portfolio of sweet/savory flavors. It represents the at-scale incumbent that Poppy competes with for shelf space at grocery and convenience channels.
• SkinnyPop: SkinnyPop is a leading better-for-you popcorn brand owned by Amplify Snack Brands (formerly Hershey). It competes with Poppy in the premium popcorn set at retailers like Whole Foods and Wegmans and dominates the "skinny/non-GMO" positioning niche nationally.
• Jolly Time Pop Corn: Jolly Time is a 100+ year American popcorn manufacturer with mass-market and microwave popcorn products. Comparable as a popcorn manufacturer in the same category, though at a much larger scale and with commodity rather than artisanal positioning.

Emerging players

• Mrs. Beasley's Bakery / Popcorn Indiana Gourmet: Mrs. Beasley's is a Southern-inspired gourmet popcorn and baked goods brand with regional gifting focus. Comparable as a smaller-scale, handcrafted popcorn brand pursuing gifting channels and Southern flavor profiles similar to Poppy's Asheville Mix and Pimento Cheese flavor lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn
• Facebookfacebook.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn
• Instagraminstagram.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn
• TikToktiktok.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn
• Xx.com/lovepoppyofavl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poppy-handcrafted-popcorn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn, Inc.