American Pop Corn Company facts for kids
| Private Corporation | |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Cloid Smith |
| Headquarters | , |
|
Key people
|
Garrett Smith President, Carlton Smith Chairman |
| Products | Blast O' Butter, Butterlicious,
Better Butter, White and Buttery, Crispy 'n White, KettleMania, The Big Cheez, Mallow Magic, Sassy Salsa, Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper |
The American Pop Corn Company is a family-owned business that makes popcorn. It started in 1914, making it the oldest popcorn company in the United States. Their only brand is Jolly Time, and you can find it all over the world and in every state in America. The company has 185 employees, and its main office is in Sioux City, Iowa.
Contents
A Popcorn Story: The History of Jolly Time
Starting the Business
The American Pop Corn Company was founded by Cloid H. Smith. He was a very busy person who tried many different businesses when he was young. He grew popcorn on his farm, but he wasn't happy with how much money he got for it. So, he decided to sell his own popcorn directly.
Cloid Smith began his popcorn business in the basement of his home. This was in Schaller, Iowa. His son, Howard, helped him get started.
Their popcorn business was very successful right away! Because of this, Cloid built a special storage building for corn in 1914. The next year, in 1915, he built another building for cleaning and preparing the corn.
Finding the Perfect Package
In the early days of the popcorn industry, packaging was a big challenge. Popcorn stored in cardboard boxes would lose its ability to pop well. Glass containers were also not very practical.
In 1924, Jolly Time found a great solution: metal cans. These cans were perfect for keeping the moisture inside the popcorn kernels. This was very important for good popping! Because of these new cans, Jolly Time started using its famous slogan: "Guaranteed to Pop."
Growing with America
The American Pop Corn Company and the popcorn industry grew a lot in the 1930s and 1940s. More and more people were gathering around radios, going to movie theaters, and later watching television. Popcorn became the perfect snack food for these activities.
Popcorn was also a cheap food during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people had little money. Even though it was cheap, popcorn's image as a fun snack was not harmed. It remained popular even after World War II, when the economy got much better.
In 1953, the Floyd River in Sioux City flooded. A lot of the city was under water. Cloid's grandson, Wrede Smith, helped lead a big project. He worked with the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce to change the river's path. This project took three years and cost a lot of money, but it helped protect the city.
New Ways to Sell Popcorn
As more popcorn companies started, The American Pop Corn Company worked hard to make the Jolly Time brand even stronger. They used new ways to advertise their popcorn. They hired famous people like Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, and Ozzie and Harriet Nelson to be their spokespeople. They also advertised on popular game shows like "Let's Make a Deal." Following what other companies were doing, Jolly Time also started using plastic bags for packaging.
The Microwave Revolution
The invention of the microwave oven completely changed the popcorn industry. Now, people could make popcorn quickly at home! This new way of cooking, along with Jolly Time starting to sell its popcorn in Europe, led to a big increase in sales. The company even built another factory.
Jolly Time Today
Today, the American Pop Corn Company is still run by the Smith family. The fourth generation of the family is in charge, and the fifth generation also works there. In 2003, they sold their one-billionth bag of microwave popcorn! Their company address even shows their fun spirit: One Fun Place, Sioux City, Iowa 51108.
In the News: Keeping Popcorn Safe
A few years ago, a man in Colorado developed a breathing problem. He had been inhaling fumes from microwave popcorn very often. Because of this, Jolly Time decided to remove a chemical called diacetyl from its popcorn. This chemical is found naturally in foods like butter and cheese and is safe to eat. However, the company wanted to make sure their product was as safe as possible for everyone.
See also
Homepage
- Jolly Time Official site: http://www.jollytime.com
