Bold flavours, brilliant people, and a very convincing argument that popcorn might just be the perfect workplace snack.
There’s a moment when someone opens a WellBox gift.
Before they’ve looked at everything else. Before they’ve read the note.
They spot the popcorn and dive straight in.
Honestly, I don’t blame them.
Popcorn Kitchen has been creating those moments since 2012. What started on the food festival circuit has grown into a much-loved brand found everywhere from farm shops and food halls to Selfridges shelves and luxury hampers.
As fellow B Corps, they’re exactly the kind of business we love partnering with. Great products, great people and a genuine commitment to doing business the right way. So, we caught up with the team to find out a bit more about the people behind the popcorn.
From Food Festivals to Selfridges and Beyond
It started with a gap in the market. In a world of bland cinema popcorn, Popcorn Kitchen wanted to champion bold flavours and proper ingredients. It was time to make Popcorn fun and interesting again and help others along the way.
Instead of sitting on a supermarket shelf with other snacks, they set their sights on places with a genuine appreciation for quality, independent delis, food halls, farm shops, upmarket hotels, airlines, hampers, and hospitality. Anywhere that takes snacking seriously. “We wanted to be a constant voice for popcorn appreciation and not just a seasonal cheerleader,” they told us, which is why growing beyond their festival roots was always the plan.” Says Louise, Popcorn Kitchen Founder.
What does a Day at Popcorn Kitchen Actually Look Like?
In one word: varied.
As a small but mighty team, everyone gets stuck in, and no two days look the same. One minute it’s sales meetings, retailer relationships and trade shows, the next it’s product development, logistics or brand identity. That’s the reality of being a challenger brand, you’re constantly looking ahead, spotting opportunities and finding new ways to stay relevant, accessible and one step ahead of the game. “As a pro-active challenger brand, we think it’s vital to be on the front foot.” Louise says. In practice, that means being the kind of business that doesn’t wait for the market to catch up, they shape it. And that’s why WellBox loves to include them in our gifts.
A Question We’ve Been Wanting to Ask: “How Do New Flavours Actually Happen?”
A mix of instinct, customer insight, experimentation, and a tasting table with very high standards.
The rule is simple: if a flavour doesn’t reflect the quality of the range, it doesn’t make the cut, however exciting it sounds on paper.
Some of their most loved flavours tell you everything about how that process works. Lemon Drizzle, arguably their most iconic, was born from pure nostalgia. “It’s like the cake without the calories,” they said. A familiar flavour in an unexpected format. The kind of thing that makes you smile before you’ve even tasted it.
That early success opened the door to a whole ‘cakey classics’ snack pack range: Blueberry Muffin, Cherry Bakewell, Gingerbread. Familiar comfort, and super tasty. There’s even a word for it: newstalgia. Timeless flavours showing up somewhere new. And once you hear it, you’ll see it everywhere.
Two B Corps, One Shared Mindset
One of the reasons we love working with Popcorn Kitchen is that we share many of the same values. We’re both proud B Corp businesses, and it’s not just a badge.
For Popcorn Kitchen, the certification felt like a natural progression. They were already supporting multiple charities, planting trees and trying to do better. B Corp gave that commitment a framework and a community.
Popcorn Kitchen has partnered with organisations like Crisis and Touch of Sparkle. They realised that a bag of popcorn can carry more than just flavour.
“It’s an ongoing pledge to be the best version of us we can,” they told us. “Turning over every possible pebble in the pursuit of excellence.”
That’s exactly the kind of partner we want in a WellBox gift.
We’re proud to be two of around 2,800 B Corp Certified businesses in the UK.
⚡Quick fire with Popcorn Kitchen ⚡
Go-to comfort snack? Lemon Drizzle popcorn. (Obviously.)
Productivity ritual? Eating well and walking every day.
Favourite brand? Disney – “It’s a magical, happy place.”
Can’t get through the day without? A cup of tea. First one of the day is, apparently, divine.
One small thing that makes work better? The colleagues. “They’re all so positive.”
Why We Love Popcorn Kitchen
At WellBox, we’re passionate about working with brands that care about quality, people and purpose as much as we do.
Popcorn Kitchen ticks every box.
Brilliant products. Strong values. And snacks that make people smile.
What’s not to love?
You’ll find Popcorn Kitchen featured across many of our curated gift boxes, alongside other fantastic makers who are doing great things and making a positive impact along the way.
