As a self-proclaimed popcorn fanatic who‘s tried just about every major brand of popcorn over the past 15 years, I was delighted when I first discovered The Popcorn Factory. The rich, nostalgic scents and flavors brought me right back to childhood trips to the state fair or movie theater.
Over the past 5 years, I‘ve personally ordered over 20 items from The Popcorn Factory for myself and as gifts. So needless to say, I consider myself a bit of a repeat customer veteran! After all those orders, I figured it was time I finally share my thoughts.
Here is my honest in-depth review of The Popcorn Factory‘s products, policies, and overall value as a long-time returning customer. Buckle up those tastebuds for the complete popcorn-scoop!
From Humble Beginnings to America‘s #1 Popcorn Company
As I touched on earlier, The Popcorn Factory first launched back in 1979 under the larger brand umbrella of 1-800-Flowers. Back then the company was pretty tiny, started by a passionate entrepreneur named James McCann.
After noticing how popular their popcorn gifts were becoming compared to flowers or other treats, James decided to spin the popcorn division off into its own brand – and thus The Popcorn Factory was born!
Over the next few decades, the company steadily grew as more and more people fell in love with their uniquely flavored popcorn packaged in creative and customizable tins, towers, boxes.
Fast forward to today where The Popcorn Factory ships over 1 million popcorn kernels annually (and that‘s a lot of corn!) They now offer over 60 different flavors including beloved classics and innovative seasonal releases. The company employs hundreds of popcorn artisans and customer service representatives.
Safe to say that tiny seed of an idea has fully popped into one of America‘s most popular gourmet popcorn and snack gift providers!
By the Numbers
Here are some key statistics and growth metrics that showcase The Popcorn Factory‘s impressive rise over 40+ years in business:
- 50,000+ Customers served per day
- 1 Million popcorn kernels shipped daily
- 60+ Gourmet flavors in current rotation
- 300% Revenue increase from 2000 to 2015 ($24M to $72M)
- 500+ Team members across the company
- 4.7/5 Average rating across review sites
- Ranked #35 in top popcorn brands (Popcorn.org)
Ingredients & Manufacturing Process
Whenever I try a new food brand, especially one focused so singularly on one key ingredient, my first question is always – where is the core component sourced from and how is it processed?
So naturally I dug into The Popcorn Factory‘s supply chain and manufacturing practices.
All of their popcorn kernels are sourced from family farms in the Midwest, mainly Nebraska and Iowa. By working directly with smaller growers, The Popcorn Factory can ensure top-grade ingredients while supporting American agriculture.
As soon as the corn kernels arrive at their headquarters in New York, they undergo thorough quality control checks for purity, consistency, and viability.
Next, the kernels are popped using proprietary methods before immediately being mixed with The Popcorn Factory‘s signature seasonings and recipes. State-of-the-art equipment ensures every bowl achieves that perfect balance of fluffy yet crisp.
Once the gourmet popcorn is crafted, it gets packed into The Popcorn Factory‘s signature touch – lovely tins, towers, boxes, and other containers.
The team closely monitors for quality and freshness throughout before quickly shipping out orders to doorsteps across America.
Key Takeaways on Ingredients & Process
What I appreciate most after learning about The Popcorn Factory‘s operations is:
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Dedication to sourcing high quality corn kernels as the starting base.
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Swift popping and preparation to maintain freshness.
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Pride in perfecting both taste and presentation with their packaging.
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Commitment to frequent quality control checks.
Taste Test Showdown: How The Popcorn Factory Compares
As a seasoned popcorn reviewer (pun intended!), I‘ve naturally tasted all major brands multiple times. So how exactly does The Popcorn Factory stack up?
Against giants like Orville Redenbacher or Pop Secret, The Popcorn Factory wins hands down for having bolder, richer, and more addicting flavors. Those national brands strive for mass appeal while The Popcorn Factory obsesses over gourmet flavor innovation.
Up against other specialty popcorn gift companies like Popcornopolis or The Popcorn Factory holds its own. Though pricing runs a little higher than Popcornopolis generally.
Ultimately, I award The Popcorn Factory top marks when it comes to striking that ideal balance of crave-worthy taste and stunning gift presentation. Their products delight the senses on multiple levels!
My Favorite Flavors
Of the 60+ flavors I‘ve sampled from The Popcorn Factory over the years, these rank as my top 5 favorites:
- Cookies and Cream: The perfect midnight snack with creamy white chocolate mixed in
- Carolina Cheddar: An homage to my southern roots with lots of tangy cheddar and smoked paprika
- Almond Toffee Pretzel: Salty, sweet, crunchy, creamy – truly the whole package!
- Cheesy Jalapeño: I love some heat and this blend of cheddar and spicy jalapeño delivers
- Strawberry Cheesecake: Who needs dessert when you have this combo of fruity sweet strawberry and rich cream cheese?
Can you tell I have a preference for the savory flavors yet appreciate the occasional sweet indulgence?
Most Creative Flavor
While I‘m a big fan of their classic staples, I absolutely admire The Popcorn Factory‘s innovation team for constantly churning out new limited batch creations.
The most creative flavor I‘ve tried to date has to be the Lobster Bisque. Yes, you read that correctly…lobster flavored popcorn!
It beautifully captured the essence of the classic seafood bisque with notes of sherry, cream, and subtle lobster. Delightfully daring and delicious.
Customer Service & Support
Over 20+ orders from The Popcorn Factory, I‘ve thankfully never had any major issues requiring heavy customer service intervention. But in chatting with representatives for questions, I‘ve always found them pleasant, knowledgeable and quick to assist.
I have noticed hold times getting longer over the years as the company grew. But during slower seasons, I‘m typically connected right away to a friendly agent based in New York.
They score top marks across review sites as well for going above and beyond when quality or delivery issues (albeit rare) do pop up.
Delivery & Packaging
Speaking of shipping, The Popcorn Factory has been mostly consistent in my experience. During peak holidays like Christmas, Valentine‘s Day or Mother‘s Day, deliveries unsurprisingly take longer so factor that in.
But for non-peak periods, I‘ve received my orders across the US usually within 7-10 business days via USPS or FedEx.
Their gift presentation and packaging is always top notch. Even after multiple shipping hand-offs, my popcorn arrives in perfectly intact tins or boxes ready for gifting.
I particularly love all the personalization options available – from photos to text messages to coloring. It really makes each gift one-of-a-kind.
Pro Tips for Saving Money
Now let‘s chat discounts and ways to save! Here are my best pro tips for getting the most bang for your buck as a Popcorn Factory customer:
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Take advantage of seasonal promotions like back-to-school sales or special October popcorn flavors.
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Sign up for their email list to get advance notice on deals plus members-only coupons
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Consider a subscription plan on flavors you indulge in often – nice way to set and save
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Buy bundle packs or bulk tins which lower cost per ounce/item
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Use Rakuten for cashback bonuses on all purchases which can really add up
Occasional Splurges
While I always look to maximize savings, The Popcorn Factory products make wonderful occasional splurges too. The custom tins are fantastic for milestone events like birthdays, anniversaries or holiday gifts.
I also gift their popcorn towers and assortments as creative corporate client gifts or real estate closing presents which feel more personal than a boring bottle of wine!
Ideal Pairings for The Popcorn Factory
Gourmet popcorn already feels like an indulgent treat. But why not double-down on the delight by pairing with other tasty treats?
Here are my top food and drink pairings to enjoy alongside The Popcorn Factory popcorn:
Beverage Pairings
- Hot chocolate: Try salted caramel popcorn dipped in hot cocoa…heaven!
- Rosé wine: Fruity, crisp flavors that cut through salt and cream
- Root beer floats: Sweet, nostalgic, fun – goes great with caramel corn
- Irish coffee: A little whiskey kick matches beautifully with deep chocolate-y popcorn
Food Pairings
- Ice cream: Mix popcorn in for flavor and crunch in sundaes
- Trail mix: Toss some popcorn in with nuts, dried fruit for sweet and salty cronch
- Chocolate bark: Melt fine chocolate over popcorn for easy homemade candy
- Popcorn balls: Old school but still delish – coat cheesy or caramel popcorn in syrup
The possibilities are truly endless when you start playing around with creative popcorn pairings. Sweet, savory, spicy – have fun and indulge your tastebuds!
Final Verdict After 5+ Years as a Customer
So after 20+ orders and 5+ years as a loyal repeat customer of The Popcorn Factory, what‘s my final verdict?
I wholeheartedly recommend The Popcorn Factory, especially for fellow popcorn lovers!
Their products consistently deliver when it comes to irresistible flavors, quality packaging, timely delivery, and reasonable prices. I‘ve yet to have a bad experience even once over dozens of orders.
While not the most budget-friendly, treat yourself or someone special occasionally to these crowd-pleasing gourmet popcorn gift packages.
Just maybe keep the exact flavors you love a secret so you don‘t have to share! Once your lucky recipients try this life-changing popcorn, they‘ll be begging for more too.
