Top Popcorn Brands: A Crunchy Countdown

When it comes to the delightful world of popcorn, discerning snack enthusiasts often search for the finest brands that offer the perfect combination of taste, texture, and aroma. With countless options lining supermarket shelves and online stores, the choice can be overwhelming. Whether you prefer classic butter flavors, crave the savory tang of cheddar, or enjoy adventurous combinations like truffle or caramel, there's a brand out there that caters to every palate. Below, we invite you to explore some of the best popcorn brands known for their quality and innovative flavors, enhancing every movie night or casual snack-time moment.

Illustration of popcorn

Best brands of popcorn in 2025

Orville Redenbacher's

Orville Redenbacher's is a leading brand in the popcorn industry, accounting for about 45 percent of the microwave popcorn market and generating $154.4 million in sales in 2020, an 11.4 percent increase from the previous year. The brand, part of Conagra Brands, is renowned for its light and fluffy popcorn, achieved through Orville Redenbacher's decades-long experimentation with over 3,000 hybrids. Known for its iconic TV commercials and diverse flavor offerings, including 18 flavors and the health-conscious SmartPop line, Orville Redenbacher's continues to dominate the market. The brand's success is also attributed to its innovative products like the Popup Bowl and Naturals line. Orville Redenbacher's commitment to quality and innovation has made it the #1 brand in microwave popcorn, kernels, and oils in the U.S. For more information about Orville Redenbacher's, visit their official website.

Pop Secret

Pop Secret is a prominent brand in the popcorn industry, known for its high-quality and flavorful products. In 2023, Pop Secret generated $199.3 million in sales, marking a 5.0% increase from the previous year. However, in 2024, the brand experienced a 10.8% decline in sales to $176.8 million. Despite this, Pop Secret remains a significant player, having been part of Campbell Soup Company before being sold to Our Home in 2024, with net sales of approximately $120 million in fiscal 2024. The brand is popular for its microwave popcorn, particularly the butter flavor, which is a favorite among consumers.

Jolly Time

JOLLY TIME, the original brand name of popcorn in America, has been a market leader since its founding in 1914 by Cloid Smith in Sioux City, Iowa. This 4th generation family-owned and family-run business has successfully navigated challenges, including a significant turnaround in the late 1990s that boosted its market share in microwave popcorn from 3.5% to 10% and achieved 20%-25% annual growth. JOLLY TIME is known for innovative products like Blast-O-Butter Movie Theater Style microwave popcorn and Healthy Pop, endorsed by Weight Watchers. The company employs around 85 employees and generates an estimated annual revenue of $22.9 million. With products available in all 50 states and globally, JOLLY TIME continues to be a prominent name in the popcorn industry. For more details, you can visit their official website.

Amish Country

Amish Country Popcorn, based in Berne, Indiana, is renowned as one of the best producers of popcorn, harvesting roughly 10 million pounds annually and selling globally since its inception in 1965. The company, founded by Brian Lehman, is committed to growing GMO and preservative-free popcorn, using natural methods like crop rotation and manual weed control. Their products include a wide variety of popcorn types, such as Medium White Hulless, Baby White Hulless, and Midnight Blue Hulless, among others. Known for its high quality, Amish Country Popcorn offers bulk options ranging from 4 oz to 25 lb bags and ensures customer satisfaction with a 90-day return policy. The company's dedication to natural and simple popcorn production has earned it a stellar reputation.

Boom Chicka Pop

Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP is a leading brand in the ready-to-eat popcorn category, founded by husband and wife entrepreneurs Dan and Angie Bastian in 2001. The brand has achieved significant growth, with sales of $55 million in 2016 and a subsequent acquisition by Conagra Brands in 2017 to further expand its reach. BOOMCHICKAPOP is known for its high-quality, gluten-free, non-GMO, whole grain popcorn available in over a dozen varieties, and it has a strong presence in various retail outlets across the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Peru, the Caribbean, and Mexico. The brand's sales have continued to grow, with an 8.8% increase to $156 million in the 52 weeks ending May 18, 2022. BOOMCHICKAPOP's commitment to real, simple ingredients and innovative flavors has made it a favorite among consumers. For more information, visit their official page.

SkinnyPop

SkinnyPop, acquired by The Hershey Company in 2017 for $1.6 billion, has emerged as a leading brand in the ready-to-eat popcorn category, recording sales of approximately $550 million with a compound annual growth rate of 16.3% over the last three years. It holds a significant market share, with its sales accounting for a substantial portion of the RTE popcorn market. Despite being present in only 15% of households, SkinnyPop is the second-best-selling brand in ready-to-eat popcorn and continues to expand its presence in all major retailers. The brand is known for its simple ingredients, including popcorn kernels, sunflower oil, and salt, and offers a range of flavors, including the newly introduced Cheddar Jalapeno. Hershey's acquisition of two popcorn plants from Weaver Popcorn aims to further boost SkinnyPop's production capacity and growth.

Smartfood

Smartfood, a brand owned by Frito-Lay, is renowned for its high-quality popcorn products, offering a variety of flavors that cater to diverse consumer preferences. Since its inception in 1985, Smartfood has maintained a strong market presence, with its White Cheddar flavor being a particular favorite, accounting for over 50% of the brand's sales. The company is committed to using all-natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives, enhancing the appeal of its products. Smartfood popcorn is widely available in major retail stores and online platforms, making it a convenient snack option for many consumers. With its consistent quality and innovative flavor offerings, Smartfood remains one of the best producers of popcorn in the market.

Quinn Popcorn

Quinn Snacks, primarily known for its pretzel products, is also a significant player in the snack industry, especially in the popcorn market. Established in 2010, Quinn has achieved remarkable growth, with a 60% increase in revenue year over year since 2019. The company is the #1 driver of growth in the pretzel subcategory and the 5th largest driver of growth in the entire salty snack category in both the Natural Channel and Whole Foods Market. Quinn's innovative snacks, which include both savory and indulgent offerings, have contributed to its strong presence in over 10,000 grocery channels and e-commerce platforms. Its pretzel growth has been particularly impressive, with a 120.8% year-over-year increase in MULO and a 287.7% year-over-year increase at Walmart. For more insights into their products and innovation, visit Quinn Snacks.

Black Jewell

Black Jewell is a renowned producer of high-quality popcorn, distinguished by its use of unique heirloom Black Corn kernels that are Non-GMO Project Verified and gluten-free. These kernels, grown on family farms in the Midwest, offer a richer, crispier taste and are virtually hulless, reducing the annoying hulls often found in other popcorn. With over a half-century of tradition, Black Jewell popcorn is packed with more protective antioxidants than yellow or white popcorn kernels and has a lower fat content. Each serving is high in protein and dietary fiber, making it a healthier snack option. Black Jewell's commitment to quality and sustainability has made it a favorite among snack lovers.

Act II

Act II, a leading brand in the popcorn industry, has been a staple since its introduction in 1984 as the first mass-marketed microwave popcorn. Owned by Conagra Brands, Act II saw a significant increase of 32.4% in sales for its core brand and 21.1% for its Butter Lovers line in 2020, and more recently, a 6.9% increase in sales to $187 million in the 52 weeks ending May 18, 2022. For more details, visit their official page on the Conagra Brands website.