Our Story
It all started with a simple idea: make delicious, natural popcorn that everyone can enjoy. As avid popcorn lovers, we were unsatisfied with the options on the market. Most were loaded with artificial flavors, colors, and ingredients we couldn’t even pronounce. We wanted to create a popcorn that was not only tasty, but also free from additives and preservatives.
In 2019, Pop Zero® Popcorn was born. Our mission was clear: craft an exceptionally delicious popcorn using only real, natural ingredients. No artificial anything allowed! We started small, testing recipes and popping techniques in our home kitchens. After many trials and lots of taste testing, we finally perfected our recipe.
Next came sourcing the highest quality ingredients to really take our popcorn to the next level. We partner with farmers to obtain non-GMO corn specifically for popping. And our coconut oil, sunflower oil, and sea salt are all organic. Every Pop Zero® kernel pops up fluffy and flavorful!
As demand grew, we moved production from our home kitchens into a dedicated popcorn facility. Now we use commercial poppers to create our popcorn fresh in single batches. This allows us to meticulously control every step of the process. From kernel to bag, we oversee the entire operation to ensure the exceptional quality our fans have come to expect.
Today, Pop Zero® Popcorn is available in stores across the country. We offer a variety of delicious flavors including Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Cheddar, and our latest creation, Mesquite BBQ. Our popcorn makes snacking a celebration, whether you’re diving into a bag at home or sharing with friends at the movies. One taste and you’ll see why we’re so obsessed with popcorn done right!
Our Ingredients
At Pop Zero® Popcorn, we believe the best flavors come from simple, natural ingredients. That’s why we use only real, wholesome foods to give our popcorn its signature taste.
- Non-GMO Corn: Our popcorn begins with non-GMO corn specifically bred for popping. We source our corn from trusted farmers in the Midwest region of the United States.
- Organic Oils: To cook and flavor our popcorn, we use a blend of organic coconut oil and organic sunflower oil. These healthy oils allow the corn to pop up light and crispy.
- Sea Salt: A sprinkle of sea salt tops off our classic Sea Salt popcorn. We use fine grain sea salt to evenly coat each popped kernel.
- Organic Sugar: A touch of organic cane sugar adds sweetness to our White Cheddar and Mesquite BBQ flavors.
- Real Cheese: Our White Cheddar popcorn gets its tangy zip from real, organic cheddar cheese. No artificial flavors here!
- Spices: Hints of garlic, onion, paprika, and chilies give our Mesquite BBQ popcorn its smoky, zesty taste.
That’s it! Our short list of ingredients results in popcorn with naturally delicious flavor you can taste in every bite.
Our Popping Process
Producing the fluffiest, crispiest popcorn is an art and a science. At Pop Zero®, we’ve perfected the process from kernel to bag.
It all starts with selecting the highest quality popcorn kernels. We work directly with farmers to obtain the best non-GMO variety of hull-less white popcorn specifically for popping. This type of corn pops up bigger and fluffier than others.
The kernels go into one of our commercial poppers that cooks the corn in hot organic oil. As the kernels heat up, the water inside turns to steam, building pressure until the kernel explodes into a popped popcorn flake. Timing is critical! The corn has to reach just the right temperature to pop perfectly.
While the popcorn is popping, the organic oils and seasonings are measured out. As soon as the corn finishes popping, it cascades from the popper into our tumbler machine. The oils and seasonings rapidly coat each warm flake to lock in flavor.
Still hot, the popcorn spills out onto a conveyor belt that transports it to our weigh station. Here the batches are portioned out into our signature bags.
The filled bags run through a metal detector to ensure there are no unwanted surprises. Then they are sealed and packaged to be shipped fresh to stores. From popper to bag, it takes less than 30 minutes to transform a kernel into a tasty Pop Zero® snack!
Our Varieties
After many rounds of taste testing, we’ve created a core lineup of crave-worthy popcorn flavors:
Sea Salt
Our classic sea salt popcorn lets the fluffy popcorn flavor shine. A sprinkling of fine sea salt enhances the corn’s natural sweetness. Crisp, salty, and irresistibly poppable!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The fruitiness of extra virgin olive oil gives a new twist to popcorn. Robust EVOO from California tops off the popcorn flakes with notes of fresh olive and a peppery bite.
White Cheddar
Aged white cheddar cheese adds tangy, savory flavor to every bite. We coat the popcorn in real organic white cheddar powder for a decadent popcorn that’s crispy on the outside with melty cheese in the center.
Mesquite BBQ
Smoky paprika and savory spices transform popcorn into a true BBQ treat. Onions, garlic, chili powder, and mesquite wood smoke flavor give this popcorn a sweet and spicy kick.
In addition to our core line, we also release limited edition seasonal flavors throughout the year. Keep an eye out for fun flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Maple Caramel, and Jalapeño Lime!
Our Commitment to Quality
At Pop Zero® Popcorn, we take quality seriously from start to finish. We meticulously oversee each step of the process to bring you the best tasting popcorn possible.
- We develop recipes using only real, natural ingredients to create true-to-life flavor. No artificial junk allowed!
- We source from farmers we trust to obtain the highest grade non-GMO popcorn kernels optimized for popping.
- Our popcorn is popped fresh in small batches in organic coconut and sunflower oil for light and crispy texture.
- Each batch is quickly seasoned and packaged to seal in the flavor and freshness.
- Our popcorn is certified gluten-free and peanut/tree-nut free in a dedicated facility to avoid cross-contamination.
- We conduct rigorous quality control checks so every bag meets our exacting standards.
Our attention to detail has earned Pop Zero® Popcorn recognition from discerning snackers across the country. When you choose our popcorn, you can feel good knowing it’s crafted with care and quality ingrained in every kernel.
Our Fans
It brings us so much joy to hear from satisfied Pop Zero® fans! Here are a few of our favorite reviews:
Sarah H. wrote:
“I’m so glad I discovered Pop Zero popcorn! It tastes like real food, not artificial flavors. The olive oil popcorn is my fave – so delicious and addicting!”
James R. raved:
“This is by far the best popcorn I’ve ever had. I can’t stop snacking on the white cheddar flavor. My kids are hooked too!”
Robin A. said:
“Thank you for making popcorn exciting again! These creative flavors are amazing. Mesquite BBQ – yum!!!”
We love creating popcorn that puts a smile on people’s faces. Knowing we’re providing a healthy, crunchy snack that the whole family can enjoy makes all our hard popcorn alchemy worthwhile.
We can’t do it without your support, so thank you for being a part of our Pop Zero® family! Please reach out and let us know what you think. We always appreciate your reviews, suggestions, and popcorn love!
Our Future
We never could have imagined back in 2019 how far Pop Zero® Popcorn would come in just a few short years. What started as a home kitchen experiment has blossomed into a beloved snack brand.
We’re thrilled by the enthusiasm for our popcorn and driven to keep improving. In the future, you can look forward to more crave-worthy flavors as we continue innovating in our popcorn kitchen.
We’re also working on reducing our environmental impact. Transitioning to fully compostable bags is one of our top priorities. And we aim to make our operation carbon neutral through local sourcing and renewable energy.
Most importantly, we’ll stay true to our original mission of crafting exceptional popcorn from real, natural ingredients. Our success comes from our fans, and we owe it to you to maintain the quality and taste you’ve come to love.
We can’t wait to bring you along on this journey to make Pop Zero® Popcorn the world’s favorite better-for-you snack!
So sit back, grab a bag, and enjoy the crunch! From our family to yours, happy snacking!