SkinnyPop facts for kids
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| Owner | The Hershey Company |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 2010 |
| Related brands | Hershey’s Popped Snack Mix |
| Markets | United States |
| Previous owners | Amplify Snack Brands |
| Tagline | Simple Tastes Better |
SkinnyPop is a popular American brand of popcorn. It's special because it's dairy-free! Today, a big company called The Hershey Company owns SkinnyPop. They bought the company that used to own it, Amplify Snack Brands, in 2017.
The Story of SkinnyPop
SkinnyPop started in 2010 in Skokie, Illinois. Two friends, Andy Friedman and Pam Netzky, created it. They also got help from Jeffrey and Michael Eiserman.
Before SkinnyPop, Andy and Pam had another popcorn company called Wells Street Popcorn. They sold that popcorn in stores and movie theaters near Chicago. In 2010, they decided to create SkinnyPop Popcorn with a brand new recipe.
How SkinnyPop Began
The very first SkinnyPop popcorn came out in 2010. It was made simply with sunflower oil and salt. Later, they added more yummy flavors. In 2017, SkinnyPop even started selling popcorn you could make in the microwave. They also began making popcorn puffs and rice cakes.
The first thousand bags of SkinnyPop were made by hand by Andy and Pam themselves! They sold them in local stores around Chicago. In October 2010, SkinnyPop teamed up with a company that helps deliver products to many stores. Because they were so busy with two popcorn brands, Andy and Pam decided to let Pam's cousin take over Wells Street Popcorn at the end of 2010.
Growing Bigger
By 2012, SkinnyPop popcorn was being made in Chicago and sent to 4,500 stores. In 2013, SkinnyPop worked with a person named Jason Cohen. Their sales grew a lot that year!
By August 2014, SkinnyPop was sold in 25,000 stores, not just in the United States, but in other countries too. That same year, Andy Friedman and Pam Netzky sold most of their share in the company to a group called TA Associates. TA Associates then hired Tom Ennis to be the new CEO. They also changed the company's name to Amplify Snack Brands.
Becoming Part of Hershey
Amplify Snack Brands became a public company in 2015. This means people could buy shares of the company. In 2016, the company's sales continued to grow.
In December 2017, The Hershey Company bought Amplify Snack Brands. This big purchase meant that SkinnyPop became part of the Hershey family of brands, which includes many famous snacks and candies.
