In recent decades, a product such as popcorn has firmly entered the lives of our compatriots and has been steadily continuing to gain popularity.
In this regard, the business associated with its production and sale is a stable and profitable business.
Making popcorn is not complicated and does not require large financial investments. You can earn pretty well on it. We suggest today to learn about how to organize your own production of popcorn.
What is popcorn?
From English, the name of this product can be translated as "popcorn". Raw materials for popcorn are corn grains having a special structure and consisting of drops of starch containing water. If they are heated to a certain temperature, the water inside the grain will boil and break its containment shell. This is how bulk cornflakes are produced, which we all love so much.
Popcorn Production Equipment
The main component of your business, of course, will be a popcorn machine. Similar devices are divided into three categories:
- Designed for 6-8 ounces. They are used in the preparation of these products on the streets, in parks, in the premises of entertainment complexes and small cinemas.
- Designed for 12-16 ounces. Such devices, as a rule, are installed in crowded places with active sales of your products: movie theater bars, large shopping and entertainment complexes, etc. In addition, such units are sometimes used in small production shops.
- Designed to produce more than 20 ounces. Equipment of this category is capable of producing 20 or more kilograms of finished products per hour. It is mainly used for production on an industrial scale.
If you plan to open a small popcorn selling point, then a popcorn machine for 6-8 ounces is suitable for you.
What raw materials are used in the manufacture of popcorn?
Popcorn production involves the use of products of three main categories: corn kernels, coconut oil and flavors. We offer a more detailed discussion of each of the points.
Corn Grains
Ordinary corn is not suitable for these purposes - we will need special varieties grown under special conditions and in a suitable climate.
Depending on the disclosure, the grains are divided into species such as “butterfly” and “caramel”.
Grains of the first grade open in the form of voluminous torn flakes and are the most common raw material in the manufacture of popcorn. In particular, they are used for the production of salted and sweet popcorn coated with glaze.
Caramel grains open in the form of flakes with a dense mushroom surface. As the name implies, they are used to make a caramelized product.
Coconut Oil for Popcorn
In general, any kind of refined vegetable oil can be used to make popcorn. However, yellow coconut oil is best. The production of popcorn on the basis of this product has the following advantages: the finished product has a pleasant nutty aroma and a sweetish taste, does not bite, and the unpleasant smell from the burned oil will not be so strong,as when using other raw materials. When buying coconut oil, be sure to purchase a natural product, not a fake. To do this, do not hesitate to ask the seller for a certificate of conformity.
Flavoring additives
To offer its customers a wider range of products, in the production of popcorn it is necessary to use various flavoring additives. So, as a rule, salted, sweet glazed and sweet caramelized popcorn are on sale. In the process of manufacturing salted popcorn, appropriate piquant additives are used, which can have different tastes (cheese, mushrooms, bacon, paprika, etc.).
The preparation of glazed popcorn involves the use of special glaze, which can vary in taste as well as in color. For the manufacture of caramelized popcorn, mixtures for caramelization are used.
Popcorn packaging
Seriously considering the business of producing popcorn, do not lose sight of the need to purchase containers for packaging the finished product. Today on the market there are several main types of packaging for the sale of popcorn: glasses, bags and boxes. We offer more details on each category.
Popcorn Glasses
Paper cups for popcorn are rightfully considered the most popular and common variety of packaging for this product due to the following advantages:
- greaseproof cardboard is used to produce such containers;
- this packaging is environmentally friendly;
- glasses are very convenient to use for both the seller and the buyer;
- this packaging has a bright color and serves to further attract the attention of customers.
Popcorn Bags
If you are just starting your popcorn business and want to keep costs as low as possible, you can use paper bags for popcorn for packaging. They are characterized by low price and take up little space.
Popcorn boxes
There is another variety of packaging for popcorn, which is a cardboard box. Despite the fact that they differ in attractive appearance, it is better to refuse their use for two reasons:
- the design of such containers implies the presence of gaps through which flavoring additives and crumbs can wake up, which is unlikely to please customers;
- when unfolding, the box often, as they say, "plays" in the hands of both the seller and the buyer, which causes certain inconvenience.
Point of sale location
This stage is fundamental to the success of your enterprise. After all, it is not enough just to produce and pack beautifully and conveniently popcorn, you also need to sell it. Of course, parks and shopping and entertainment centers with high traffic are the ideal place for the location of the outlet. In addition, a cinema sale will be a profitable solution.
Additional income
When eating sweet or salty dry foods, which include popcorn, a person usually begins to feel thirsty.
Take advantage of this in order to secure additional income, as well as to attract more customers.
Moreover, most large manufacturers of soft drinks provide their refrigerators for use on a free basis only under the condition that you will not store competitors' products in them.
Staff
Even if you plan to open a very small point for the sale of popcorn, the issue of staff selection should be given increased attention.A sociable, smiling and always positive-minded person is best suited for such work, who also easily finds a common language with children, who will make up the bulk of the consumers of your products. However, no matter how pleasant your employee may be, do not forget to regularly monitor how he performs his duties.
Popcorn business: the financial side
If you plan to open a small point for the sale of popcorn, then financial investments will be very small and unlikely to exceed the amount of three thousand dollars, including the purchase of equipment, raw materials, containers, rents and salaries to the seller.
At the same time, the profitability of this business can be from 300 to 700%!
In this regard, we can conclude that the production of popcorn is a very profitable and promising business, which everyone can organize.
