Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn expands with new shipping facility in Old Fort

ASHEVILLE - Business for handcrafted popcorn is, apparently, popping. Asheville-based Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, which makes naturally flavored non-GMO popcorn, is expanding.

The company opened a new shipping and fulfillment facility in Old Fort in early March, allowing a 2,500 square foot expansion of the kitchen and production space at its existing Black Mountain facility.

As a result, the popcorn maker will boost production capacity by more than 25%, which will enable it to expand nationwide wholesale business.

The company also is likely to hire more staff for its Black Mountain facility once the kitchen and packaging line expansions are completed.

Ginger Frank founded Poppy in 2014 in part to create a family-friendly career, she said in a statement.

"As the company grew, I realized that it’s hard for lots of people to find a good job in this area,” she said. “It was a very deliberate decision to keep our production local."

Poppy’s workforce has more than doubled over the past three years.

With the growing cost of living and doing business in Asheville, Poppy isn’t the only company expanding operations to Old Fort.

Popy's new shipping and fulfillment space is next door to Hillman Beer's new taproom and Kitsbow Cycling Apparel.

“We love how much Hillman and Kitsbow have become a part of the Old Fort community and are working on some really cool projects in the area to support the local economy,” Frank said. “Our commitment to Asheville, Black Mountain and now Old Fort is something we feel very passionate about as well.” 

Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn is available through a variety of local retailers, including Old Fort Mercantile in downtown Old Fort and Black Mountain’s Artisan Gourmet, The Merry Wine Market or Town Hardware.

A complete list retailers, including dozens in the Asheville area, can be found at www.poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com. 

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Mackensy Lunsford has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years, and has been a staff writer for the Asheville Citizen Times since 2012. Lunsford is a former professional line cook and one-time restaurant owner.

Reach me:  mlunsford@citizentimes.com.

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