Indiana Business Sells 375 Flavors Of Popcorn

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #6, Page #09

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Ask for any flavor of popcorn, and Carole Buck will likely figure out how to make it. Kahlua and cream, strawberry shortcake, and macaroni and cheese are just 3 of the 375 flavored popcorns she offers through her business, Not Just Popcorn.
    Buck was employed at the business in 1989 when the owner decided to sell out. At 50, her friends thought she was crazy, but she thought the business was fun and took it over. Nearly 25 years later, she still runs it, working seven days a week.
    Her two-building business is located in the small town of Edinburgh, Ind., which always smells like whatever flavored popcorn is being made. The retail store has 75 to 80 flavors on the shelves, and Buck’s crew custom-makes whatever flavors are ordered.
    She describes the hands-on process as similar to mixing cement. The flavoring ingredients are heated and mixed together, then the popped corn is added and everything is tossed around to coat every piece of popcorn.
    When bagged, the flavored popcorn has a shelf life of about 45 days for savory flavors to two months for most other flavors. Traditional caramel popcorn is the most popular, with Chicago Mix (real cheese) right behind. The third place top choice is dill pickle. And of course, the chocolate varieties rank pretty high.
    “We get our flavor ideas from our customers,” Buck says. “The only one I refused was a request for Copenhagen chewing tobacco flavor.”
    She has been surprised how well some odd flavors came out—such as catsup and beer, and liquor-flavored varieties.
    Not Just Popcorn caters to special events like weddings, showers, birthdays and holiday parties with custom blends of colors and flavors. It offers packages for corporate gifts and fundraising programs. And it sells popcorn in a wide variety of collectable tins (1, 2, 3 1/2 and 6 1/2 gal.) that include all the major sports logos.
    The business has many loyal customers who buy a tin of popcorn and then enjoy half price refills after that— simply by mentioning they have a tin when they call in an order.
    Many first-time customers buy the Sampler Box, which Buck calls the “hooker” because people get hooked once they try it. It sells for $18 and includes 10 bags of the most popular varieties.
    Located just 30 miles from Indianapolis, Not Just Popcorn is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can take a short free tour or book ahead for a 45-min., $2 tour.
    “We do a lot of tours for bus groups, schools, boys and girls clubs and church groups. We had one bus group from Alaska,” Buck says.
    “I would like everyone to come and see us for themselves,” she adds. “We have a good product, and our staff is friendly.”
    If you can’t make it, check out the website and call. Not Just Popcorn ships all over the world.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Carole Buck, Not Just Popcorn, 114 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh, Ind. 46124 (ph 800 231-5689; www.notjustpopcorn.com).

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Indiana Business Sells 375 Flavors Of Popcorn FARM HOME Food Ask for any flavor of popcorn and Carole Buck will likely figure out how to make it Kahlua and cream strawberry shortcake and macaroni and cheese are just 3 of the 375 flavored popcorns she offers through her business Not Just Popcorn Buck was employed at the business in 1989 when the owner decided to sell out At 50 her friends thought she was crazy but she thought the business was fun and took it over Nearly 25 years later she still runs it working seven days a week Her two-building business is located in the small town of Edinburgh Ind which always smells like whatever flavored popcorn is being made The retail store has 75 to 80 flavors on the shelves and Buck’s crew custom-makes whatever flavors are ordered She describes the hands-on process as similar to mixing cement The flavoring ingredients are heated and mixed together then the popped corn is added and everything is tossed around to coat every piece of popcorn When bagged the flavored popcorn has a shelf life of about 45 days for savory flavors to two months for most other flavors Traditional caramel popcorn is the most popular with Chicago Mix real cheese right behind The third place top choice is dill pickle And of course the chocolate varieties rank pretty high “We get our flavor ideas from our customers ” Buck says “The only one I refused was a request for Copenhagen chewing tobacco flavor ” She has been surprised how well some odd flavors came out—such as catsup and beer and liquor-flavored varieties Not Just Popcorn caters to special events like weddings showers birthdays and holiday parties with custom blends of colors and flavors It offers packages for corporate gifts and fundraising programs And it sells popcorn in a wide variety of collectable tins 1 2 3 1/2 and 6 1/2 gal that include all the major sports logos The business has many loyal customers who buy a tin of popcorn and then enjoy half price refills after that— simply by mentioning they have a tin when they call in an order Many first-time customers buy the Sampler Box which Buck calls the “hooker” because people get hooked once they try it It sells for $18 and includes 10 bags of the most popular varieties Located just 30 miles from Indianapolis Not Just Popcorn is a popular tourist attraction Visitors can take a short free tour or book ahead for a 45-min $2 tour “We do a lot of tours for bus groups schools boys and girls clubs and church groups We had one bus group from Alaska ” Buck says “I would like everyone to come and see us for themselves ” she adds “We have a good product and our staff is friendly ” If you can’t make it check out the website and call Not Just Popcorn ships all over the world Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Carole Buck Not Just Popcorn 114 E Main Cross St Edinburgh Ind 46124 ph 800 231-5689; www notjustpopcorn com

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