Cromer's
Cromer's is a family-owned Columbia, South Carolina gourmet snack retailer founded in 1935, selling handcrafted popcorn, peanuts, gift baskets, and concession equipment to consumers, corporate accounts, and event operators across the Southeast and via nationwide e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cromer's does
Cromer's (legal entity Cromers Pnuts, LLC) is a family-owned gourmet food retailer founded in 1935 by Julian D. Cromer at a farmer's market in depression-era Columbia, South Carolina. The company specializes in handcrafted popcorn popped fresh daily using coconut oil, roasted and boiled peanuts (Valencia and Spanish varieties), gift baskets, sweets (cotton candy, candy apples, chocolate-covered items), and branded merchandise. Its secondary wholesale vertical supplies concession equipment — including popcorn machines, cotton candy makers, snow cone machines, and hot dog steamers — alongside replenishment supplies such as oils, seasonings, packaging, and consumables to event operators.
The business operates a multi-channel distribution model anchored by a single flagship retail store at 3030 N Main St in Columbia, SC, complemented by a Shopify-powered direct e-commerce storefront with US-wide shipping, local delivery, and store pickup. Physical retail reach is extended through distribution partnerships with regional grocery chains Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Lowes, and Piggly Wiggly across South Carolina and into Georgia. Customer segments include individual consumers (primary), corporate accounts ordering for events and gifting, wedding and event planners seeking custom-packaged favors, and concession operators purchasing equipment and supplies. Pricing is uniformly unit-based across product categories, with most consumer items priced under $30 and concession equipment ranging from approximately $965 to $3,785.
The company has no external funding, no subsidiaries, no mobile application, no disclosed API, and no AI/ML capabilities. It remains owned by Julian D. Cromer's descendants, with community engagement at Soda City Market, Cola Concerts, and NOMA Warehouse events serving as a key top-of-funnel marketing channel alongside Instagram and an email newsletter offering a 10% first-order discount.
Cromer's firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cromer's
- Legal name
- Cromers Pnuts, LLC
- Website
- https://cromers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cromer's is a family-owned Columbia, South Carolina gourmet snack retailer founded in 1935, selling handcrafted popcorn, peanuts, gift baskets, and concession equipment to consumers, corporate accounts, and event operators across the Southeast and via nationwide e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cromer's industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Foods
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Popcorn Manufacturing (AFAKAIAC)
Keywords
Where Cromer's is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cromer's business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Gourmet Popcorn Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling craft-popped gourmet popcorn in various flavors including butter, caramel, cheese, candy, and seasonal varieties. Products sold in various sizes from individual bags to bulk bushel bags.
- Peanut Sales: Sales of roasted and raw peanuts including Valencia and Spanish varieties, sold in various packaging sizes from 4oz bags to 10lb boxes.
- Gift Baskets and Merchandise: Pre-packaged gift baskets, boxes, and branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, koozies, coffee mugs, and stickers.
- Group/Bulk Orders: Bulk orders for corporate events, weddings, and gatherings with case discounts and customization options including branded packaging.
- Concession Equipment Sales: Sales of concession equipment including popcorn machines, cotton candy machines, hot dog steamers, snow cone machines, candy apple equipment, and snack bar equipment.
- Concession Supplies Sales: Sales of supplies for concession operations including oils, flavorings, bags, cones, syrups, and consumables for popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, and hot dogs.
- Sweets and Specialty Items: Cotton candy, chocolate covered items (almonds, peanuts), and peanut brittle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual popcorn products ranging from single bags to bushel sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Caramel and specialty popcorn in multiple size options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cheese and flavored popcorn varieties |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Peanut products from small bags to wholesale boxes |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Group order pricing with bulk discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift baskets and pre-packaged gift selections |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Christmas tin collection with limited availability |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise and apparel |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Concession equipment for commercial operations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cromer's product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cromer's is a family-owned specialty food producer and retailer founded in 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina. The company handcrafts gourmet popcorn popped fresh daily using coconut oil, roasts and boils peanuts in multiple varieties, and assembles gift baskets, sweets, and holiday tins. In parallel, Cromer's sells commercial-grade concession equipment and supplies (popcorn machines, cotton candy makers, snow cone machines, oils, flavorings, packaging) targeted at carnival and event operators.
Product overview
Cromer's is a family-owned gourmet food retailer founded in 1935, specializing in handcrafted popcorn and peanuts. The company operates a dual business model offering: (1) retail consumer products including gourmet popcorn in over 30 varieties (buttered, caramel, cheese, savory, seasonal), roasted and boiled peanuts, gift baskets, sweets (cotton candy, candy apples), and branded merchandise; and (2) a B2B wholesale division supplying concession equipment (popcorn machines, cotton candy makers, snow cone machines) and concession supplies (oils, seasonings, packaging). The core portfolio consists of the Gourmet Popcorn and Peanuts product lines, supported by seasonal offerings like the Christmas Tin Collection and a Group Orders service for bulk corporate and event catering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gourmet Popcorn
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 90 years of continuous operation since 1935
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cromer's
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cromer's technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Cromer's partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cromer's competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nuts.com: Online retailer of bulk and packaged nuts, snacks, and confections with broad assortment. Comparable because Cromer's peanut line (roasted, boiled, Valencia, Spanish in bags up to 10lb boxes) competes in the same premium packaged nuts segment.
- Popcornopolis: Gourmet popcorn brand specializing in popcorn in cones, tins, and gift packaging sold via DTC and retail. Direct comparable because Cromer's sells similar flavored/skinned popcorn in tins and gift baskets through the same channels.
- Hampton Farms: Leading US producer of in-shell peanuts and boiled peanuts with strong Southeastern US distribution. Comparable because Cromer's boiled peanuts and roasted/Valencia/Spanish peanuts target the same regional snack consumer.
- The Popcorn Factory: Long-running gourmet popcorn gifting company (founded 1979) focused on decorated tins and gift assortments. Comparable because Cromer's Christmas Tin Collection and gift baskets target the same corporate-gifting and seasonal occasions.
- Garrett Popcorn Shops: Chicago-based gourmet popcorn retailer with flagship stores, nationwide e-commerce, and gift tins. Direct comparable: handcrafted popcorn popped in small batches with proprietary recipes, sold via DTC and gift baskets.
- Gold Medal Products: Major manufacturer and distributor of concession equipment and supplies for popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones. Comparable because Cromer's sells parallel concession equipment (Econo Pop, Whiz Bang) and consumable supplies (oils, seasonings, packaging).
Broad incumbents
- Jolly Time Pop Corn: America's first branded popcorn company (founded 1914) selling microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn nationally. Broad incumbent comparable at the category level, though Cromer's sits in the fresh gourmet sub-segment vs. Jolly Time's packaged commodity positioning.
- SkinnyPop Popcorn: National better-for-you popcorn brand now owned by Amplify Snack Brands. Adjacent comparable on popcorn category competition; Cromer's competes for the same snack occasion with a fresh/artisan positioning versus Skinnypop's packaged clean-label approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cromer's social profiles
Digital presenceCromer's financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cromer's leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cromer's funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cromer's 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 Cromer's
What does Cromer's do?
Cromer's is a family-owned specialty food producer and retailer founded in 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina. The company handcrafts gourmet popcorn popped fresh daily using coconut oil, roasts and boils peanuts in multiple varieties, and assembles gift baskets, sweets, and holiday tins. In parallel, Cromer's sells commercial-grade concession equipment and supplies (popcorn machines, cotton candy makers, snow cone machines, oils, flavorings, packaging) targeted at carnival and event operators.
Is Cromer's a public or private company?
Cromer's is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cromer's founded?
Cromer's was founded in 1935. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cromer's based?
Cromer's is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cromer's make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Gourmet Popcorn Sales are the primary driver. The others are peanut Sales, gift Baskets and Merchandise, group/Bulk Orders, concession Equipment Sales, concession Supplies Sales and sweets and Specialty Items.
Who are Cromer's's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nuts.com, Popcornopolis, Hampton Farms, The Popcorn Factory, Garrett Popcorn Shops and Gold Medal Products. Broad incumbents are Jolly Time Pop Corn and SkinnyPop Popcorn.
Does Cromer's have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cromer's.
What industry is Cromer's in?
Cromer's's product category is Specialty Foods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAIAC, Popcorn Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2000.