American Pop Corn Company
Encyclopedia
The American Pop Corn Company is a family owned popcorn
producer. Founded in 1914, it is the oldest popcorn company in the United States. Its only brand, Jolly Time, is sold globally and in every state in America. It employs 185 people, and its headquarters are in Sioux City, Iowa
.
pop corn from his farm was being sold, he decided to sell his own.
He first began his popcorn business
in the basement
of his home with the help of his son Howard.
Business was so successful that he immediately built a crib in 1914 and a shelling and cleaning building in 1915.
A major concern in the early history of the popcorn industry was packaging. Pop corn packaged in cardboard
lost its popping quality, and glass was impractical. In 1924, Jolly Time transitioned metal cans which were ideal for sealing in moisture.
This led to Jolly Time's "Guaranteed to Pop" slogan
. Several factors led to the continued economic growth
of the American Popcorn Company and the pop corn industry in general during the 1930s and 1940s. As more people gathered around radios, movie theaters and television
sets, Jolly Time often met the demand for the perfect snack food
. Also, popcorn was a cheap food for those living during the great Depression
, yet this did not damage pop corn's imaging
during the economic boom following World War II
. In 1953, the Floyd River
flooded and much of Sioux City was under water. Cloid's grandson and future president
of the company, Wrede Smith headed a project with the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce
to rechannel the river. The project took three years and cost $19.6 million.
Due to an increase in competition
, The American Pop Corn Company tried to strengthen the Jolly Time Brand through new marketing strategies. They hired celebrity spokespeople such as Danny Kaye
, Bob Hope
, and Ozzie
and Harriet Nelson
, and advertised on game shows such as "Let's Make a Deal." Following the industry trend, Jolly Time transitioned to the plastic bag
for packaging.
The introduction of the microwave oven
revolutionized the pop corn industry. This effect, along with a new strategy of selling Jolly Time in Europe
resulted in an increase in sales and the building of another plant.
Today, The American Pop Corn Company is run by the fourth generation of the Smith family. They sold their one-billionth bag of microwave popcorn in 2003.
man who developed a respiratory illness from inhaling microwave pop corn fumes on a twice-daily basis, Jolly Time no longer contains diacetyl
. This chemical occurs naturally in foods such as butter, cheese, and fruits; it is safe for consumption.
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
producer. Founded in 1914, it is the oldest popcorn company in the United States. Its only brand, Jolly Time, is sold globally and in every state in America. It employs 185 people, and its headquarters are in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
.
History
The American Pop Corn Company's founder, Cloid Smith, made many business ventures during his youth; unsatisfied with the pricePrice
-Definition:In ordinary usage, price is the quantity of payment or compensation given by one party to another in return for goods or services.In modern economies, prices are generally expressed in units of some form of currency...
pop corn from his farm was being sold, he decided to sell his own.
He first began his popcorn business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
in the basement
Basement
__FORCETOC__A basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are typically used as a utility space for a building where such items as the furnace, water heater, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system...
of his home with the help of his son Howard.
Business was so successful that he immediately built a crib in 1914 and a shelling and cleaning building in 1915.
A major concern in the early history of the popcorn industry was packaging. Pop corn packaged in cardboard
Paperboard
Paperboard is a thick paper based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker than paper. According to ISO standards, paperboard is a paper with a basis weight above 224 g/m2, but there are exceptions. Paperboard can be single...
lost its popping quality, and glass was impractical. In 1924, Jolly Time transitioned metal cans which were ideal for sealing in moisture.
This led to Jolly Time's "Guaranteed to Pop" slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
. Several factors led to the continued economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
of the American Popcorn Company and the pop corn industry in general during the 1930s and 1940s. As more people gathered around radios, movie theaters and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sets, Jolly Time often met the demand for the perfect snack food
Snack food
A snack is a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged and processed foods and items made from fresh ingredients at home....
. Also, popcorn was a cheap food for those living during the great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, yet this did not damage pop corn's imaging
Positioning (marketing)
In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization....
during the economic boom following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1953, the Floyd River
Floyd River
The Floyd River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in northwestern Iowa in the United States. It enters the Missouri at Sioux City, and is named for Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.-Course:...
flooded and much of Sioux City was under water. Cloid's grandson and future president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the company, Wrede Smith headed a project with the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
to rechannel the river. The project took three years and cost $19.6 million.
Due to an increase in competition
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
, The American Pop Corn Company tried to strengthen the Jolly Time Brand through new marketing strategies. They hired celebrity spokespeople such as Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
, Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
, and Ozzie
Ozzie Nelson
Oswald George "Ozzie" Nelson was an American entertainer and band leader who originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet radio and television series with his wife and two sons.-Early life:...
and Harriet Nelson
Harriet Nelson
Harriet Nelson was an American singer and actress. Nelson is best known for her role on the long-running sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.-Early life and career:...
, and advertised on game shows such as "Let's Make a Deal." Following the industry trend, Jolly Time transitioned to the plastic bag
Plastic bag
A plastic bag, polybag, or pouch is a type of packaging made of thin, flexible, plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile. Plastic bags are used for containing and transporting goods such as foods, produce, powders, ice, magazines, comic books, chemicals and waste.Most plastic bags are...
for packaging.
The introduction of the microwave oven
Microwave oven
A microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that heats food by dielectric heating, using microwave radiation to heat polarized molecules within the food...
revolutionized the pop corn industry. This effect, along with a new strategy of selling Jolly Time in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
resulted in an increase in sales and the building of another plant.
Today, The American Pop Corn Company is run by the fourth generation of the Smith family. They sold their one-billionth bag of microwave popcorn in 2003.
In the news
In responses to a complaint of a ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
man who developed a respiratory illness from inhaling microwave pop corn fumes on a twice-daily basis, Jolly Time no longer contains diacetyl
Diacetyl
Diacetyl is a natural byproduct of fermentation. It is a vicinal diketone with the molecular formula C4H6O2...
. This chemical occurs naturally in foods such as butter, cheese, and fruits; it is safe for consumption.