Popcorn has become more than just a movie theater snack. Popcorn makers are showing up at malls, children's parties and even in retail store locations to give customers something to nosh on as they browse aisles. Popcorn equipment has become smaller, less intimidating and more portable.
With increased popularity, also comes more choices. The gourmet popcorn business provides people with popcorn that is more than just plain or buttered. If you are looking to add some popcorn equipment to your business or want to add some gourmet popcorn supplies to your stock, you need to have some background on how popcorn poppers and equipment work.
1. Get knowledgeable on the classes of popcorn makers
2. Find professional training for popcorn makers
3. Use the Internet to locate information on how to correctly operate your popcorn equipment
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Know how much popcorn each popcorn maker can handle
Bigger is not necessarily always better. If your popcorn business is scant or scattered, having a large machine that makes a lot of popcorn isn't cost effective or necessary. On the other hand, having a line out the door while a small popcorn popper chugs away isn't good either. Get to understand how long each popcorn maker cycle is and the volume produced during each.
I recommend: The learning center at
MyPopcornMachine.com provides free articles on popcorn machines. It includes a formula to help you calculate how much popcorn is necessary for you to produce based on your client base. There is a chart at
ePopcorn.com that spells out how much each size popcorn machine can produce per hour for those who would prefer to have the calculation done for them.
Have a formal popcorn machine training session
If the popcorn machine is going to be used by more than just yourself, you might want to consider having a larger, more formal training session for your workers. Even if it's just you that will be operating it, you need to know how to work the machine, how to service it and how to clean it after a day of use.
I recommend: Get a comprehensive training DVD from
Concession Solutions that not only covers setting up and using a commercial popcorn popper, but also includes instructions on how to properly clean it. The crew at
Heart of Dixie Popcorn & Supply, who are popcorn distributors, offer training and assistance with setting up, operating and cleaning popcorn poppers.
Use the Internet to learn how to use popcorn equipment correctly
If you've had training or if you just need a refresher course on how to correctly operate or clean your popcorn machine, hit the Internet for some quick and free training. Most popcorn equipment suppliers include instruction manuals with their products, but it may not always be enough information or contain the information that you need to focus on.
I recommend: The folks at
Standard Concession Supply have a free article that gives you the steps necessary to operate a general commercial popcorn machine. If a video tutorial is more your speed,
Gold Medal Products Co. has a free online video that shows you how to operate a commercial popcorn machine.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- When searching for popcorn suppliers or popcorn producers, make sure that their product includes directions on use and is compatible with the type of popcorn equipment you have.
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