Pop corners
PopCorners is a PepsiCo-owned snack brand that sells air-popped, never-fried popped corn snacks in eight original flavors plus a newer 9g-protein line, distributed through U.S. grocery, warehouse clubs, major e-commerce platforms, and a DTC storefront targeting health-conscious and mainstream snackers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMiddletown, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pop corners does
PopCorners is a PepsiCo-owned snack brand that produces air-popped, never-fried popped corn snacks marketed under the better-for-you banner. The company's core technology is a patented air-popping process that combines heat and moisture under compression to create a light, crispy texture without frying, distinguishing the product from conventional chips and microwavable popcorn. Its product portfolio consists of two lines: an original line with eight flavors (Sea Salt, Smokehouse BBQ, Jalapeño Popper, White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Crunch, Spicy Queso, and a 15-count variety pack), and a newer PopCorners Protein line launched in May 2026 with three flavors (Hickory BBQ, Zesty Cheddar, Cinnamon Delight) delivering 9g of protein per serving via pea and rice protein isolates. Select products are certified Kosher, gluten-free, or Non-GMO Project Verified, and the brand emphasizes clean ingredient profiles with no artificial flavors.
The company operates a consumer packaged goods (CPG) revenue model, generating revenue through one-time retail purchases of branded snack products priced at standard CPG price points (120-140 calories per serving). Its go-to-market is omnichannel and heavily reliant on PepsiCo's distribution infrastructure: products are sold through major U.S. grocery chains and warehouse clubs (Costco, SamsClub), leading e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Instacart), and the brand's own DTC storefront at popcorners.com. The Protein line rolled out in select retailers at the end of May 2026 and reached nationwide U.S. distribution by July 2026. PopCorners targets two primary consumer segments: health-conscious snackers seeking never-fried, clean-ingredient options with functional benefits (protein), and mainstream snackers looking for flavorful, crunchy varieties. The brand supports demand through an owned marketing stack — a brand website, Facebook/Twitter/Instagram presence, and an email newsletter ("Joy") — while distribution, manufacturing scale, and operational decisions flow through its parent, PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP).
Pop corners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pop corners
- Legal name
- PopCorners (brand owned by PepsiCo)
- Website
- https://popcorners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PopCorners is a PepsiCo-owned snack brand that sells air-popped, never-fried popped corn snacks in eight original flavors plus a newer 9g-protein line, distributed through U.S. grocery, warehouse clubs, major e-commerce platforms, and a DTC storefront targeting health-conscious and mainstream snackers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pop corners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Better-for-You Snacks
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Popcorn Manufacturing (AFAKAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Popcorn & Puffed Snacks (CRADABAH)
Keywords
Where Pop corners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Middletown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pop corners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: PopCorners generates revenue through the sale of branded snack products to consumers via retail stores and e-commerce platforms. Products are sold as one-time purchases at retail price points, distributed through major retail chains and online marketplaces.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pop corners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PopCorners manufactures and sells air-popped, never-fried popped corn snack products under two main lines: the original PopCorners line (Sea Salt, Smokehouse BBQ, Jalapeño Popper, White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Crunch, Spicy Queso) and the PopCorners Protein sub-brand (Zesty Cheddar, Hickory BBQ, Cinnamon Delight) with 9g of protein per serving. Products are made using a patented air-popping technique that combines heat and moisture under compression, emphasizing clean ingredient lists with no artificial flavors in most SKUs.
Product overview
PopCorners is a PepsiCo-owned snack brand offering air-popped, never-fried popped corn snacks. The product portfolio consists of two main lines: (1) the original PopCorners line featuring eight flavors (Sea Salt, Smokehouse BBQ, Jalapeño Popper, White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Crunch, Spicy Queso), and (2) the newer PopCorners Protein sub-brand launched in 2026 with three flavors (Zesty Cheddar, Hickory BBQ, Cinnamon Delight) offering 9g of protein per serving. All products use a patented air-popping technique that combines heat and moisture under compression. The brand emphasizes no artificial flavors, with some products being gluten-free, non-GMO verified, or kosher certified.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PopCorners Protein: Protein-focused snack line launched in 2026, featuring three flavors with 9g of protein per serving using pea and rice protein isolates.
Products and services
- PopCorners Original Air-popped, never-fried popped corn snacks available in savory and sweet flavors including Sea Salt, Smokehouse BBQ, Jalapeño Popper, White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Crunch, and Spicy Queso. Marketed to everyday snack consumers seeking crunchy, better-for-you alternatives with clean ingredient lists.
- PopCorners Protein Protein-enriched air-popped, never-fried snack line with 9g of protein per serving across three flavors (Hickory BBQ, Zesty Cheddar, Cinnamon Delight). Targeted at health-conscious consumers and the 73% of Americans actively seeking protein in their diets.
- PopCorners Variety Pack - 15ct A 15-count variety pack allowing consumers to sample multiple PopCorners flavors in a single purchase.
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of Americans are actively seeking protein in their diets, representing the target market for PopCorners Protein line
Companies that use Pop corners
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pop corners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Pop corners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pop corners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quest Nutrition: Quest is a leader in protein-enriched snacks (bars, chips, pretzels). Directly comparable to PopCorners Protein on the high-protein snack positioning and mass-retail distribution, though anchored in different base formats.
- Popchips: Popchips makes popped (never-fried) potato, corn, and other snacks with a similar air-popped, better-for-you positioning. Directly comparable on the 'popped instead of fried' technology narrative and mass retail availability.
- SkinnyPop: SkinnyPop is a leading popped popcorn snack brand (now owned by Utz/formerly Amplify/Conagra) positioned as a better-for-you, ready-to-eat popcorn. Directly comparable to PopCorners on product format (popped popcorn), clean-ingredient positioning, and mass retail distribution.
- Smartfood: Smartfood is PepsiCo's own popcorn brand within Frito-Lay, offering ready-to-eat popcorn including popcorn clusters. It is a direct portfolio sibling and competitive comparable in the same popcorn aisle, sharing PepsiCo distribution.
- Pipcorn Snacks: Pipcorn is a premium popped popcorn and popped snack brand using heirloom corn. Directly comparable to PopCorners on popped-corn format, clean-ingredient positioning, and DTC plus retail channel mix.
Broad incumbents
- Bare Snacks: Bare is PepsiCo's baked/never-fried fruit and veggie chip brand. Comparable as a PepsiCo-owned better-for-you snack sibling leveraging the same parent distribution and clean-label positioning across an adjacent snack format.
Emerging players
- Quinn Snacks: Quinn produces better-for-you snacks including popcorn, pretzels, and peanut butter-filled snacks with a clean-ingredient emphasis. Comparable on better-for-you popcorn and transparent ingredient positioning.
- Beanitos: Beanitos makes bean-based chips and puffs as a better-for-you alternative to corn/tortilla chips. Comparable on the clean-ingredient, gluten-free, non-GMO positioning and the broader better-for-you snack competitive set.
- Hippeas: Hippeas is a chickpea puff snack positioned in the better-for-you, plant-based snack category. Comparable on the puffed/snack format, clean-ingredient story, and shelf placement in the natural/snack aisle, though based on a different base ingredient.
- Lesser Evil: Lesser Evil produces organic popcorn and puffs in the better-for-you snack segment. Comparable on popped popcorn format, organic/clean-label positioning, and natural channel plus mainstream retail distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pop corners social profiles
Digital presencePop corners compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Pop corners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pop corners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Pop corners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pop corners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pop corners
What does Pop corners do?
PopCorners manufactures and sells air-popped, never-fried popped corn snack products under two main lines: the original PopCorners line (Sea Salt, Smokehouse BBQ, Jalapeño Popper, White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Crunch, Spicy Queso) and the PopCorners Protein sub-brand (Zesty Cheddar, Hickory BBQ, Cinnamon Delight) with 9g of protein per serving. Products are made using a patented air-popping technique that combines heat and moisture under compression, emphasizing clean ingredient lists with no artificial flavors in most SKUs.
Is Pop corners a public or private company?
Pop corners is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Pop corners founded?
Pop corners was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pop corners based?
Pop corners is headquartered in Middletown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pop corners make money?
One revenue line is on record: consumer Packaged Goods Sales.
Who are Pop corners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quest Nutrition, Popchips, SkinnyPop, Smartfood and Pipcorn Snacks. Bare Snacks is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Quinn Snacks, Beanitos, Hippeas and Lesser Evil.
Does Pop corners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pop corners.
What industry is Pop corners in?
Pop corners's product category is Better-for-You Snacks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAIAC, Popcorn Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRADABAH, Popcorn & Puffed Snacks. Its SIC code is 2090.