Tag Archives: Gourmet Popcorn

National Popcorn Poppin’ Month!

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We must be very POPular if we get our own month! October is National Popcorn Month and we couldn’t be happier. Why October you ask? For over 30 years (Hey, that’s how long we’ve been around!), October has taken the title of National Popcorn Month because of the fall harvest in the Midwest every year. It was given the official title in 1999, under then Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman. And now every year, we get an extra reason to celebrate the snack we love most: Popcorn!

 We’ve created a super-fun infographic with tons of little-known facts about popcorn. We’ll bet you had no idea that Americans eat 16 billion quarts of popcorn each year (it’s true!), or that The Popcorn Factory is in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the world’s biggest popcorn ball. And that’s just a bite-sized sampling of all the tidbits we have to share with you!

So sit back, grab a bucket of your favorite kernels and enjoy learning everything you need to know about popcorn. When you’re done, come back and tell us which fun fact was the most surprising to you!

Kernels-vs.-Colonels-Infographic

We may be biased, but we think everyone can agree that popcorn is the perfect snack to enjoy year long, with so many variations to choose from! Our all natural butter popcorn is a staple for any movie night; mix it up and add our real cheese popcorn for a popcorn purist’s dream mix! No one can resist our secret recipe caramel popcorn, sweet and buttery and always fresh. We’re also constantly coming up with new and unique flavors to try! Our s’mores corn is a new twist on the campfire classic. Our jalapeno popcorn can rope in anyone who tries it. For any Fall fans out there, our caramel apple popcorn is a must have!

Is your mouth watering yet? Head on over to our site and look at all the scrumptious selections we have to offer! Don’t forget to try our scary good Halloween Collection while it lasts; a wide assortment of savory and sweet popcorn as well as other delicious treats!

#JustBecause

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What moves you to make someone smile? Celebrate all of life’s moments- big, small, or in between and never miss an opportunity to express how you feel… “just because!”

$5 Popcorn Card

$5 Popcorn Card

Mini Canisters – Celebration Corn

Mini Canisters – Celebration Corn

Large Popcorn Card

Large Popcorn Card

Just Because Sampler

Just Because Sampler

“Just Because… Everybody loves popcorn!”

Delivering a smile is easy when you choose to send our gourmet popcorn gifts filled with sweets and treats.

Our Popcorn Card offers a bag of our gourmet Kettle Corn in an assortment of festive colors.

 

 

 

Choose from a wide selection of unique gift ideas that are perfect for any and every occasion. Our sweet & salty Cornfetti Kettle Corn blends fun and festive colors with delicious, gourmet popcorn. Choose between twelve different quirky and delicious Just Because sentiments:

•  I Shouldn’t Have, But I Did!
•  I’m Thinking of You!
•  You Deserve a Smile!
•  You Can’t Eat a Tweet!
•  I Miss You!

 

 

It doesn’t matter what you want to say whether it’s: “Happy National Friendship Day!” “Thanks for helping me move,” or “Just because I miss you,” let them know you’re thinking about them in a special way.

Our Large Popcorn Card offers a bag of scrumptious S’Mores Corn and a bag of our classic Cheese Popcorn.

 

 

Our Just Because Sampler delivers a gourmet sentiment sure to make an impression.

Don’t just wait for a holiday, birthday, or anniversary when you send an unexpected gift to your loved ones; you can send one Just Because!

Back To School Care Packages

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As the dog days of summer wind down, it’s time to start gearing up for fall, which means it’s time to head Back to School! College is a big step for parents and their new students. As you send them on their way, make sure you remind them how much you care and how proud you are of them when you surprise them with one of our Care Packages filled with delicious popcorn and treats. We have a wide selection of treats they’ll be sure to love and share with their new roommates!

University of Snacks Snack Stash

University of Snacks Snack Stash

University of Snacks Snack Stash

Here’s a school you’ll never want to graduate from! The University of Snacks invites you to study these tempting munchies: Gourmet Cheese Popcorn, White Cheddar Popcorn, Sour Green Apple Kettle Corn and Buffalo Ranch Popcorn; Mini Pretzels, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dry Roast Peanuts, Sour Stars, Jelly Belly® Beans and Sour Sassy Taffy.

 

 

 

Snack Attack Popcorn

Snack Attack Popcorn

Snack Attack Popcorn

When hunger hits, hit back! Our 2 and 3½ gallon Snack Attack Popcorn Tins come filled with freshly popped Gourmet Popcorn in our three most popular flavors—Butter, Cheese, and Caramel.

 

 

 

 

 

Deluxe Study Sampler

Deluxe Study Sampler

Deluxe Study Sampler

Whether your student is working hard at home or away at college, this Deluxe Sampler in our new Study design is sure to make them score a 100. We’ve filled this shareable snack gift box with so many delicious treats-chocolate chip cookies, honey roast peanuts, mini pretzels, assorted Jelly Belly® beans, double twist caramels, 2 Rainbow sandwich cookies, red licorice twists, robust Cheese popcorn, delicate White Cheddar popcorn, and Almond Pecan corn, it will make studying truly enjoyable.

 

 

Sweet vs. Savory: Which Side Are You On? Take Our Quiz to Find Out!

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Sweet vs Savory PopcornWhen it comes to snacking, do you prefer sugar or spice … or do you think everything is nice? Take this fun quiz to find out where your loyalties lie in the sweet vs. savory debate. Then check out your results to see which scrumptious popcorn flavors we recommend just for you!

Quiz

  1. You’re on a camping trip with family and friends. What’s the first snack you reach for while swapping stories over the campfire?
    1. S’Mores
    2. Pretzels
    3. Trail mix
  1. What’s your favorite kind of food?
    1. Italian
    2. French
    3. Chinese
  1. It’s Friday night and you want to order pizza instead of cooking dinner. What’s the first kind of pizza that catches your eye on the takeout menu?
    1. Ham and pineapple
    2. Fresh mozzarella and tomato sauce
    3. Mixed veggies
  1. When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you crave for breakfast?
    1. Pancakes
    2. Eggs and Bacon
    3. Bagel with cream cheese
  1. After you eat dinner, you always have more room for:
    1. Dessert
    2. Cheese
    3. Coffee
  1. You’re at a restaurant and there’s no salt on the table. You:
    1. Don’t even notice; your food tastes just fine without salt!
    2. Call the waiter over and ask him to bring a salt shaker
    3. Sprinkle some pepper on your food instead
  1. What is your go-to salad topping?
    1. Fresh fruit
    2. Ranch dressing
    3. Raspberry vinaigrette

Results

If you answered …

Mostly A’s: You have a sweet tooth. Talk about a sugar rush!

No matter how much you eat, you always have room in your tummy for something sugary. If the sweet deliciousness of chocolate, candy and fruit is what you crave, try these luscious popcorn confections, made with all your favorite dessert-time flavors:

Sweet Popcorn Flavors

Caramel
Kettle Corn
Toasted Coconut
Cranberry
Chocolate Drizzle
S’Mores

Mostly B’s: Savory treats are your fave. Pass the salt, please!

When the salt shaker goes missing at the dinner table, your family knows exactly where to find it: in your hands! Your taste buds go crazy for powerful, tangy foods with a zing. Give snack time a tasty kick with these perfectly seasoned popcorn treats:

Savory Popcorn Flavors

Butter
Cheese
White Cheddar
Jalapeño
Buffalo Ranch
Cracked Pepper
Sea Salt Slim

Mostly C’s: Sweet? Savory? Who cares? You love to enjoy the best of both worlds!

Your appetite doesn’t play favorites. Your passion for food is equally divided between sweet and savory. And when the two come together to make one flavor-packed treat, you’re in snacker heaven! If you love to mix things up, try these knockout popcorn flavor combinations:

Sweet and Savory Popcorn Flavor Combos

Peanut Brittle
Almond Pecan
Cinnamon
Butter Toffee Almond
Sour Green Apple
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt

Make It Personal With Customized Popcorn Gifts for Every Occasion!

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Big Day Small Canister SetHave a big day coming up? Whether you’re celebrating a Sweet 16, a wedding, a birthday or an annual family trip, nothing makes your present pop out from the crowd more than a customized label for your gourmet popcorn tins! So the next time you want to make the day extra-special, try one of these two awesome ways to personalize your snack gifts!

Big Day, Small Canister

These small custom canisters send a big message that’ll make your big event even more memorable. Each set of four canisters comes with adorably illustrated logos that can be tailored with the name and date of your event. Choose from a selection of three out-of-this-world popcorn flavors to fill your canisters with: caramel, Cornfusion (a blend of caramel, butter and cheese popcorn) and pink passion fruit popcorn. Then, pick the label theme that best fits your special day: baseball, congrats, golf, birthday, patriotic, party, summer, or wedding. These pint-sized snacks make the perfect party favors or miniature gifts for the guests of honor!

Personalized ZigZag 3-Flavor Popcorn TinCustom Popcorn Tin Labels

These popcorn tins don’t just come in super-stylish designs. You can make them even more unique for your big occasion by adding a custom photo label on the lid. There are loads of tin designs to choose from, including flowers, butterflies, patriotic stars, birthday party hats and more. Plus they come filled to the brim with mouthwatering gourmet popcorn flavors (like cheese, white cheddar, and almond pecan, just to name a few), pretzels, cookies, candy and more! Once you’ve chosen your tin and the snacks you want to fill it with, put the final personal touch on your present: a completely customized label. Whether you add a photo, a message or both, this is one keepsake gift that will last long after all those delicious snacks are gone!

How will you choose to personalize your popcorn gifts for your next big celebration?

The Perfect Father’s Day Gifts for Your Pops!

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Dad’s big day is almost here: Father’s Day 2014 is Sunday, June 15! And we can’t think of a better way to say “You’re the best, Pops!” than with a giant tub of popcorn. To help you get a head start on your Father’s Day gift shopping, we’ve rounded up our top popcorn picks for every kind of dad:

Movie Night Scoop BoxesFor the Family Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Movie Night Scoop Boxes

If your dad’s favorite hobby is to spend time with you and the rest of the clan, then give him a gift that’ll inspire the theme for your next family night! Perfect for a movie marathon, these snack boxes come with loads of sharable candy for the whole family: butter popcorn, red licorice twists, malted milk balls, gummy bears and more. Pair them with a few DVDs Dad loves, then head to the living room to enjoy some quality time with the man of the house!

Sports TinsFor the Sports Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Sports Tins

Got a dad who’s crazy for sports? We have the perfect gift for Pops to show off his team pride! Whether he’s a MLB, NFL or college sports fan, he’ll love these sports tins. They’re adorned with tons of team logos and mascots, so you can pick Dad’s favorite. Not to mention that they’re filled with three delicious flavors of popcorn that your father can munch on while he cheers on his best players. But never mind the athletes: Dad will always be the MVP in your eyes!

Create Your Own Snack AssortmentFor the Handy Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Create Your Own Assortment

Leaky faucets don’t stand a chance: When something around the house needs to be fixed, your dad rolls up his sleeves and gets down to business. If he’s a DIY dad who likes to get things done his way, there’s no doubt he’ll love this create-your-own assortment. Just pick three of Pop’s favorite popcorn flavors for a totally custom snacking experience that you handpicked yourself. It’s a Father’s Day gift that would make any handy man dad proud!

Which category does your pops fall into, and how will you surprise him with popcorn on Father’s Day?

Colorful Graduation Gifts for Every Grad

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Whether they’re getting a master’s degree or a kindergarten diploma, every grad deserves to be applauded for their hard work and great achievements. And what says “You did it!” better than a delicious gift of gourmet popcorn? After your favorite grad marches down the aisle, hand them one of these colorful graduation gifts as a wish for a bright and promising future!

Say It In Color Snacker's Choice Gift BoxSay It In Color Snacker’s Choice Gift Box

A special occasion like this one calls for a gift with a very special message. So don’t settle for plain snacks; give your grad something with meaning. This neon gift box isn’t just filled with yummy gourmet cheese, cinnamon, almond pecan, and cracked Pepper and sea salt popcorn; triple chocolate cookies; honey roasted peanuts; foil-wrapped chocolate stars; sour stars; Jelly Belly jellybeans; and two original-recipe popcorn balls. It also features a heartfelt graduation message inside that shows your alum just how proud of them you are.

Say It In Color Tins & TowersSay It In Color Tins & Towers

With so many accomplishments stacked up high, your grad now has a stepladder to reach for the sky! Show them how monumental their graduation day is with a whopping seven-tier rainbow tower filled with sandwich cookies, gourmet pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, foil-wrapped chocolate stars, sour fruit chews, jellybeans and more. Plus it comes with a 2-gallon popcorn tin with our famous three-flavor assortment: butter, cheese and caramel. The stars are the limit!

ZigZag 3-Flavor PopcornZigZag 3-Flavor Popcorn Tin

Just like your alum stands out from the crowd on commencement day, give them a gift that’ll really pop too! With a vibrant design on the outside and three mouthwatering flavors of popcorn on the inside, this popcorn tin will make grads of all ages beam with joy. To make your gift really unforgettable, personalize it with a thoughtful message, your favorite photo of you with your grad, or both. After the popcorn is gone, the tin becomes a keepsake they can enjoy well after they’re on the road to success.

Celebration CanistersCelebration Canisters

What graduation bash is complete without some colorful confetti? When your dearest grad finally has that diploma in hand, top off their big day by showering them with confetti popcorn! One canister of this sweet and salty kettle corn comes with four festive colors to celebrate one of life’s most shining moments. Go ahead: Toss that cap into the air and celebrate graduation in a delicious way. A lifetime of achievement starts today!

Which colorful gift will you give to your special grad on commencement day?

Crosstown Rivals: Fun Facts About the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox

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Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox 3-Flavor MLB Popcorn TinsWe here at The Popcorn Factory are proud to be from Chicago. What’s not to love? It’s such a powerhouse city that not one, but two grand-slammin’ MLB teams call it home. The electrifying crosstown rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox has been sending shocks of high-voltage excitement through fans’ blood for ages. So grab a Cubs or Sox 3-Flavor Baseball Popcorn Tin and join in on the action: We’ve got all the fun facts you need to know about the Windy City’s most exhilarating teams!

Chicago Cubs Trivia

Chicago Cubs 3-Flavor Popcorn Tin

Today, the Cubs are one of the top five grossing teams in the MLB.

The Chicago Cubs are one of four major league baseball teams that do not have mascots.

The Cubs’ logo has been changed so many times over the years that no one really knows who designed it.

Before they were known as the Cubs, the team was also called the Chicago White Stockings, the Colts, the Black Stockings, the Orphans, the Rainmakers and the Cowboys. They didn’t get their modern-day name until 1902, when a newspaper reporter used the nickname “Cubs” to refer to the team in an article.

Every time the Cubs win a game at Wrigley Field, a flag printed with the letter “W” for “Win” is hoisted high above the scoreboard.

Only four Cubs uniform numbers have been retired: 14 (Ernie Banks), 10 (Ron Santos), 26 (Billy Williams) and 23 (Ryne Sandberg).

The Cubs were the first team ever to win two back-to-back World Series championships. They won their first series in 1907 and claimed victory again in 1908. However, they haven’t won a championship since then, though they did win National League titles in 2007 and 2008.

The Cubs didn’t start playing at Wrigley Field until 1916. They called five different parks home before they settled at Wrigley: 23rd Street Grounds, Lakefront Park, West Side Park, South Side Park, and West Side Grounds.

The first baseball game to ever be covered on the radio was aired on October 1, 1924, when the Cubs defeated the White Sox 10-7.

There are 42,157 seats in Wrigley Field, including standing room tickets.

On July 27, 1930, Wrigley Field hosted its biggest crowd ever: 51,556 fans. There were so many people that, in order to make everyone fit, visitors were allowed to stand along the outfield’s warning track.

Lights weren’t installed in Wrigley Field until after 1942, when the initial fixtures were donated to the war effort after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In Game 4 of the 1945 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, the Cubs didn’t allow William Sianis—owner of the Billy Goat Tavern—to bring his lucky goat into Wrigley Field. Sianis angrily declared that the Cubs would never win a World Series again. So far, what’s known as “The Curse of the Billy Goat” has come true: The Cubs lost the series that year and every year after that.

The first regular season Cubs game to be broadcast on television was aired on April 20, 1946.

Sammy Sosa hit 33 home runs in his first season with the Cubs. Before he played with the Cubs, he hit 28 runs with the White Sox in fewer than three seasons. Continue reading →

Afternoon Sugar Rush: How to Make Double Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn

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Double Caramel Marshmallow PopcornThe day is winding down, and so is your energy. But that’s nothing a double shot of caramel can’t fix! For the ultimate sugar rush, whip up a wickedly delicious batch of this Double Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn recipe. It’s got twice the sweet flavor, and it’s twice as easy to make as any other dessert. So go ahead and give that afternoon slump a one-two punch!

Batch of Double Caramel Marshmallow PopcornWhat You’ll Need

2 canisters The Popcorn Factory caramel popcorn
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups brown sugar
23 large marshmallows

Directions

  1. Pour the caramel popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Melt the butter in a pot over low heat.
  3. Add the corn syrup, vanilla extract, brown sugar and marshmallows to the pot and turn the heat to medium. Stir the ingredients until the marshmallows completely melt and the mixture takes on a smooth, thick caramel texture.
  4. Carefully pour the caramel marshmallow mixture over the caramel popcorn and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.
  5. Let the popcorn cool for a few minutes, and then serve in a bowl or store in an airtight container.

What other popcorn flavors do you turn to for a midday pick-me-up? Tell us about your favorite!

Fun Administrative Professionals Day Gift Ideas for Men and Women

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Thank You So Much Sampler

The time’s come to celebrate the unsung heroes of every successful business: Administrative Professionals Day 2014 is Wednesday, April 23! Although they often work in the background, secretaries, receptionists and other administrative support professionals who keep businesses running smoothly from day to day. If you know a co-worker who always goes above and beyond, give them the big thank-you they deserve with these Administrative Professionals Day gift ideas from The Popcorn Factory!

Administrative Professionals Day Gifts for Men

These cool, classic tins and gift towers come packed with heaps of snacks that any hungry man would love. With piles of absolutely scrumptious rainbow sandwich cookies, gourmet pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, foil-wrapped chocolates, sour fruit chews, jelly beans, mindblowing popcorn flavors and more, these are the perfect gifts for the guys who keep the show running at the office each and every day.

Administrative Professionals Day Gift Ideas for Men

From left to right:

Administrative Professionals Day Gifts for Women

Give the ladies something bright and cheery with which they can prettify their desk space. In addition to being chock-full of yummy treats—honey roasted peanuts, dark chocolate caramels, chocolate chip cookies, gourmet pretzels, tortilla chips, salsa, sour hard candies, foil-wrapped chocolates, fruit chews, flavor-packed popcorn and more—they’re also beautifully decorated with colorful flowers and stripes. For the women who make the workplace a much lovelier place to be, consider these great gifts:

Administrative Professionals Day Gift Ideas for Women

 From left to right:

Do you have any terrific co-workers or employees that you’d like to honor on Administrative Professionals Day? Tell us all about them!