Why Gourmet Popcorn is Growing in Grocery Stores
Ready-to-eat popcorn has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors of the snacks market. A host of pre-packaged brands in assorted flavors can now be found competing side-by-side in the aisle with chips, pretzels, and crackers. But what makes this trend unique is the potential for grocery stores to private label their own gourmet popcorn. 
According to research conducted by Nielsen, 64% of survey respondents in North America say they shop at grocery stores most often for snacks. Now, grocery stores can respond to this need by offering a fresh alternative with a gourmet popcorn shop.
Many grocery stores have salad bars, high-end gourmet pastries and premier deli departments. Gourmet popcorn is a natural complement to these product lines. It does not take up a lot of space and is not labor intensive. This is a quality, high-end product that can be produced at very low costs, while offering extremely attractive margins of 70-80%. It is versatile, as it’s easy to try different flavors and find out what does well with your customer base.
Gourmet popcorn creates a variety of sales opportunities:
• An in-store popcorn shop provides a sensory experience with the delicious aroma prompting impulse buys.
• It’s also a great opportunity to offer popcorn party trays for parties and events.
• Popcorn can be packaged in decorative bags or tins and sold for holidays and special occasions.
Martin’s Super Markets recently added a gourmet popcorn shop to one of their Indiana stores. “We looked at market trends and saw how excited people were about it,” says Phil Sommers, Martin’s bakery director. “There are so many directions and possibilities we can take this in.”
Known as the “sweet shop set-up,” gourmet popcorn is one of Gold Medal’s most popular product lines. With so many options from cheese pastes to glazes and shake-on flavors, it’s easy to customize a plan that we will work for your location’s needs. To learn more or to schedule a demo, call 800-543-0862 or email [email protected].