Lincoln Snacks Company facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Snack food |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
| Founder | Sandoz-Wander, Inc. |
| Headquarters |
,
United States
|
|
Key people
|
Jeffrey Dunn President and CEO |
| Products | See products section |
| Revenue | US$45 Million (2006) |
|
Number of employees
|
114 |
The Lincoln Snacks Company was a company that made yummy caramelized popcorn and mixes of popcorn and nuts. Their snacks were made in Lincoln, Nebraska, and sold all over the country. You might remember their famous brands like Poppycock, Fiddle Faddle, and Screaming Yellow Zonkers (which isn't made anymore). In 2007, Lincoln Snacks joined a bigger company called ConAgra Foods, Inc..
Contents
History of Lincoln Snacks
How it Started
The story of Lincoln Snacks began with a Swiss company called Wander. This company started in Berne, Switzerland, in 1865. They were known for making Ovaltine.
In 1960, Wander bought the idea for a snack called Poppycock. This tasty treat was made of caramelized popcorn and nuts. It was created by Harold Vair, who owned a candy shop in Detroit.
A few years later, in 1968, Wander joined with another company called Sandoz Nutrition Corporation. Together, they formed Sandoz-Wander, Inc. (which is now part of a big medicine company called Novartis). This is when the Lincoln Snacks Company was officially created. Poppycock production moved to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Who Owned the Company?
In 1992, Sandoz-Wander decided to sell Lincoln Snacks. A company called Noel Group, Inc. bought it. Lincoln Snacks changed its name to Lincoln Foods Inc. Its main offices moved to Stamford, Connecticut, but the factory stayed in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In 1993, Lincoln Foods bought another company called Carousel Nut Products, Inc. This company made roasted and mixed nuts. By 1994, Carousel's operations moved to the Lincoln factory. That same year, Lincoln Foods started selling shares of its company to the public. This meant anyone could buy a small piece of the company.
Over the years, Lincoln Foods was bought by different groups. In 1998, Brynwood Partners took over. Then, in 2004, a company called Willis Stein & Partners bought Lincoln Foods. They also bought another snack company, Jays Foods, Inc.. They created a new main company called Ubiquity Brands. Ubiquity Brands also changed Lincoln Foods' name back to Lincoln Snacks Company.
Finally, on September 7, 2007, Lincoln Snacks was bought by ConAgra Foods, Inc. for about $50 million. Lincoln Snacks then became part of ConAgra's snack foods team.
How Lincoln Snacks Worked
Making the Snacks
Lincoln Snacks made and packaged all of its products in its factory in Lincoln, Nebraska. The factory was built in 1968. It's a large building, about 74,000-square-foot (6,900 m2) big. Most of this space, about 67,000 square feet (6,200 m2), was used for making the snacks. The rest was for offices. Lincoln Snacks also had a big warehouse nearby to store its products.
Selling the Snacks
For a while, Lincoln Snacks worked with other companies to sell its products. In 1995, they let Planters Company (which was part of Nabisco, Inc.) be the only company to sell Fiddle Faddle and Screaming Yellow Zonkers. Later, in 1997, Lincoln Snacks made another deal with Nabisco. This allowed Lincoln Snacks to use Planters' famous names (or trademarks) when selling Fiddle Faddle. However, by May 1997, Lincoln Snacks started selling Screaming Yellow Zonkers again by themselves.
Popular Products
Poppycock
Poppycock was created in the 1950s by Harold Vair. He wanted a snack for his road trips. The "original" Poppycock is a special snack with popcorn, almonds, and pecans. These are all covered in a sweet candy or caramel glaze.
Here are some other kinds of Poppycock that were made:
- Cashew Lovers – This kind had cashews instead of almonds and pecans. It came out in 1999.
- Chocolate Lovers – This was the "original" kind, but with yummy chocolate drizzled on top. It was introduced in 2000.
- Pecan Delight – The almonds in the "original" kind were replaced with pralines. This came out in 2001.
- Indulgence – These were different flavors and nut mixes made especially for women. They were introduced in 2007.
Fiddle Faddle
Fiddle Faddle was first sold in 1967. It was a snack that cost a bit less than Poppycock. Fiddle Faddle has popcorn and peanuts. They are covered in either the "original" caramel glaze or a "butter toffee" glaze. The first Fiddle Faddle box was special because it was the first snack box to have a carrying handle!
Screaming Yellow Zonkers
Screaming Yellow Zonkers was popcorn covered in a bright yellow, sugary glaze. It was introduced in 1969. This snack was made for people who couldn't eat nuts, as it didn't have any. Allan Katz designed the fun original box and advertisements. Screaming Yellow Zonkers was even shown on the Food Network show Unwrapped in 2002. However, this snack is not made anymore.
