Preferred Popcorn
Preferred Popcorn is a 100% farmer-owned popcorn grower and processor based in Nebraska that produces bulk, organic, microwave, and private label popcorn for movie theaters, food manufacturers, grocery retailers, and consumers across 70 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersChapman, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Preferred Popcorn does
Preferred Popcorn is a 100% farmer-owned popcorn grower and processor headquartered in Chapman, Nebraska, founded in 1997 by Norm Krug. The company operates two production facilities — the Nebraska headquarters and Preferred Popcorn East in Palmyra, Indiana (acquired in 2010 from Preston Farms) — and added a dedicated organic facility in 2015. Preferred Popcorn grows, processes, and distributes specialty popcorn across five product categories: bulk popcorn (butterfly and mushroom varieties including Platinum, Gourmet White, Gold, Jumbo Mushroom, and Miracle Mushroom, in both conventional and organic grades), home popping kernels, microwave popcorn, popcorn supplies/concession kits (Flavacol, Lou Ana Oil, movie-theater-style popping kits), and private label packaging. Its customer base spans movie theater chains and concession operators, ready-to-eat food manufacturers, grocery retailers, and individual consumers purchasing via Amazon, with distribution to 70 countries managed through a regional field sales structure.
The company's underlying technology is agronomic rather than digital: specialized non-GMO seed varieties, no-till and precision-agriculture farming with GPS-monitored chemical application, climate-controlled storage bins with moisture measurement to a 13.5-14% specification, and a 17,500+ farmer contract network in India via the Gourmet Popcornica partnership (formed in 2014). It holds BRC A-ratings at both US facilities and a full suite of certifications (Kosher, Halal, Organic, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Project, Bee Friendly). Product differentiation is technical — expansion rates up to 45-50:1 for Platinum Butterfly and mushroom-shaped kernels engineered for even caramel and candy-coating adhesion.
Revenue mechanics are diversified across one-time commercial sales: bulk popcorn to manufacturers, theaters, and grocers; quote-based private label with MOQs of 40,000-60,000 units; Amazon e-commerce for consumer SKUs; and international sales through regional reps covering Asia/Europe/Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Pricing is quote-based for commercial accounts and unit-priced for private label. Preferred Popcorn has grown to ~999M annual servings while remaining privately held with no institutional or PE ownership disclosed; it was recognized as Nebraska Small Manufacturer of the Year in 2020.
Preferred Popcorn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preferred Popcorn
- Legal name
- Preferred Popcorn, LLC
- Website
- https://preferredpopcorn.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Preferred Popcorn is a 100% farmer-owned popcorn grower and processor based in Nebraska that produces bulk, organic, microwave, and private label popcorn for movie theaters, food manufacturers, grocery retailers, and consumers across 70 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preferred Popcorn industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bulk Popcorn Products
- NAICS
- Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Popcorn Manufacturing (AFAKAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Popcorn & Puffed Snacks (CRADABAH)
Keywords
Where Preferred Popcorn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chapman
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Preferred Popcorn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bulk Popcorn Products: Sale of bulk popcorn varieties including Gold Popcorn, Gourmet White Butterfly, Jumbo Mushroom, Miracle Mushroom, Platinum Butterfly, and organic variants to commercial customers including manufacturers, grocery stores, and food service operators.
- Microwave Popcorn: Pre-packaged microwave popcorn in various flavors (Butter, Extra Butter, Cheese, Jalapeno, Kettle Corn, Natural) sold to consumers through Amazon e-commerce.
- Home Popping Kernels: Non-GMO and organic popping kernels for home use sold in 28oz bags through Amazon and other retail channels.
- Private Label Popcorn: Private label kernel packaging in poly pillow style bags for conventional and organic varieties. Minimum order quantities typically 40,000-60,000 units depending on size/packaging type.
- Popcorn Supplies and Concessions: Sale of popcorn concession supplies including Lou Ana Oil (Canola/Coconut oil blend), Flavacol Butter Salt seasoning, and movie theater style popping kits in various sizes (6oz, 8oz, 10oz, 16oz).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Private label popcorn packaging |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Preferred Popcorn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preferred Popcorn grows, processes, and distributes premium bulk popcorn kernels (butterfly and mushroom varieties, conventional and organic), home popping kernels, microwave popcorn, concession supplies/kits, and private label packaging. Products serve commercial buyers (movie theater chains, food manufacturers, grocery retailers, food service operators) across 70 countries and individual consumers via Amazon, supported by farmer-owned supply and sustainable farming practices.
Product overview
Preferred Popcorn is a farmer-owned popcorn company offering a comprehensive product portfolio organized into five main categories: Bulk Popcorn Products (including Gold, Gourmet White, Platinum, and Jumbo/Miracle Mushroom varieties, both conventional and organic), Home Popping Kernels (Non-GMO and Organic), Microwave Popcorn (Butter, Cheese, Extra Butter, Jalapeno, Kettle Corn, Natural, and Variety Packs), Popcorn Supplies/Kits (Flavacol Butter Salt, Lou Ana Oil, and Movie Theater Style Popping Kits), and Private Label Popcorn. The company differentiates through various kernel types (butterfly and mushroom), expansion rates, and certifications including organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and kosher.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gold Butterfly Popcorn Versatile butterfly-type bulk popcorn with 40-44:1 expansion and crisp texture, for ready-to-eat manufacturers, microwave producers, and grocery stores.
- Gourmet White Butterfly Popcorn Nearly hull-less white butterfly popcorn with 42-47:1 expansion for ready-to-eat and at-home applications.
- Jumbo Mushroom Popcorn Large ball-shaped mushroom popcorn with 28-34:1 expansion, suited to coating applications due to its round even surface.
- Miracle Mushroom Popcorn Combines high expansion with ball-shaped mushroom form for caramel, candy-coated, and kettle corn applications.
- Platinum Butterfly Popcorn Classic butterfly popcorn with very large tender kernels expanding from one cup to 45-50 cups, popular in cinema and concession industry.
- Organic Gourmet White Popcorn 100% all-natural organic white butterfly popcorn with 42-46:1 expansion and nearly hull-less tender texture.
- Organic Mushroom Popcorn Organic blend of expansion and ball-shaped popcorn (30-34:1) for caramel, candy-coated applications and organic kettle corn.
- Organic Yellow Butterfly Popcorn Versatile organic yellow butterfly popcorn with 40-44:1 expansion and crisp texture for ready-to-eat manufacturers and grocery stores.
- Non-GMO Popping Kernels High-expansion home popping kernels in a 28oz bag producing up to 150 cups, originally developed for movie theaters.
- Organic Popping Kernels Certified organic home popping kernels grown by US organic farmers, 28oz bag producing up to 120 cups.
- Microwave Butter Popcorn Microwave popcorn with rich butter flavor, 3oz bag producing about 10 cups, zero trans-fat and non-GMO.
- Microwave Cheese Popcorn Microwave popcorn with real cheese flavor pre-flavored in the bag.
- Microwave Extra Butter Popcorn Extra buttery microwave popcorn with movie theater taste and fewer calories, 3oz bag producing about 7 cups.
- Microwave Jalapeño Popcorn Spicy jalapeño flavored microwave popcorn.
- Microwave Kettle Corn Sweet and salty kettle corn flavor in microwaveable form.
- Microwave Natural Popcorn All-natural microwave popcorn with light seasoning enhancing natural popcorn flavor.
- Microwave Popcorn Variety Packs Multi-pack containing Butter, Extra Butter, Kettle, and Natural flavors, 12 boxes with 3 bags each.
- Flavacol Butter Salt Premium seasoning salt for popcorn with fine salt flakes that adhere better, made with the special Alberger Process that removes bitter trace minerals.
- Lou Ana Oil Special blend of Canola and Coconut oils designed for great-tasting popcorn.
- Movie Theater Style Popping Kits Pre-measured popcorn, oil, and butter-flavored salt kits for home or commercial popping in 6oz, 8oz, 10oz, and 16oz poppers.
- Private Label Popcorn Private label kernel packaging in poly pillow style bags for conventional and organic varieties, with sustainable poly options using post-consumer recycled material; minimum order quantities typically 40,000-60,000 units.
Quantifiable outcome
- Expansion rates up to 50:1 for Platinum Butterfly popcorn, maximizing profitability per pound for concessions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Preferred Popcorn
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Preferred Popcorn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Preferred Popcorn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Gourmet PopcornicacoreGourmet Popcornica, a Chennai-based company, was founded in 2014 through a strategic partnership with US-based Preferred Popcorn. The partnership has helped India reduce popcorn maize imports from 70% of domestic demand a decade ago to 15% currently, while domestic production expanded from 15,000 tonnes to 85,000 tonnes. Gourmet Popcornica works with over 17,500 farmers across nine states through contract farming.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Preferred Popcorn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Weaver Popcorn Company: Family-owned popcorn grower and processor based in Indiana, offering bulk popcorn, microwave popcorn, and contract manufacturing. Direct competitor to Preferred Popcorn across bulk, microwave, and private label popcorn channels.
- Jolly Time Pop Corn: One of the oldest American popcorn brands, producing microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn kernels. Comparable as a US-based popcorn manufacturer with overlapping retail and bulk customer segments.
- Snappy Popcorn: Iowa-based popcorn grower and processor serving wholesale, foodservice, and private label channels. Highly comparable mid-sized farmer-network popcorn competitor with similar B2B focus.
- Amish Country Popcorn: Indiana-based popcorn brand offering gourmet kernel varieties and microwave popcorn to retail and foodservice customers. Overlaps with Preferred Popcorn's product portfolio, particularly butterfly and mushroom kernel types.
- Great Northern Popcorn: Popcorn equipment and supply company that also sources bulk kernels for concessions and home use. Comparable in the concession supply and popcorn kit categories where Preferred Popcorn competes.
Broad incumbents
- Conagra Brands (Orville Redenbacher, ACT II, SkinnyPop): Major CPG company owning leading consumer popcorn brands including Orville Redenbacher, ACT II, and SkinnyPop. Operates at significantly larger scale in retail and microwave popcorn, representing a broad incumbent competitor across multiple channels.
Emerging players
- Popcorn Indiana: Specialty popcorn brand focused on kettle corn and better-for-you snacking in retail. Comparable as an emerging specialty popcorn player with overlapping consumer positioning, though more retail-skewed than Preferred Popcorn's bulk focus.
Regional players
- Gourmet Popcornica: India-based popcorn company founded as a strategic partnership with Preferred Popcorn in 2014, working with over 17,500 farmers across nine states. Directly comparable business model and partnership relationship in the South Asian market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Preferred Popcorn social profiles
Digital presencePreferred Popcorn compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Preferred Popcorn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preferred Popcorn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Preferred Popcorn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preferred Popcorn M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Preferred Popcorn
What does Preferred Popcorn do?
Preferred Popcorn grows, processes, and distributes premium bulk popcorn kernels (butterfly and mushroom varieties, conventional and organic), home popping kernels, microwave popcorn, concession supplies/kits, and private label packaging. Products serve commercial buyers (movie theater chains, food manufacturers, grocery retailers, food service operators) across 70 countries and individual consumers via Amazon, supported by farmer-owned supply and sustainable farming practices.
Is Preferred Popcorn a public or private company?
Preferred Popcorn is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Preferred Popcorn founded?
Preferred Popcorn was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Preferred Popcorn based?
Preferred Popcorn is headquartered in Chapman, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preferred Popcorn make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Bulk Popcorn Products are the primary driver. The others are microwave Popcorn, home Popping Kernels, private Label Popcorn and popcorn Supplies and Concessions.
Who are Preferred Popcorn's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Weaver Popcorn Company, Jolly Time Pop Corn, Snappy Popcorn, Amish Country Popcorn and Great Northern Popcorn. Conagra Brands (Orville Redenbacher, ACT II, SkinnyPop) is listed as a broad incumbent. Popcorn Indiana is listed as an emerging player. Gourmet Popcornica is listed as a regional player.
Does Preferred Popcorn have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preferred Popcorn.
What industry is Preferred Popcorn in?
Preferred Popcorn's product category is Bulk Popcorn Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAIAC, Popcorn Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRADABAH, Popcorn & Puffed Snacks. Its NAICS code is 3114 and its SIC code is 2000.