Determining which company sells the most popcorn in the United States requires analyzing a deeply segmented and competitive retail market. This discussion focuses strictly on sales within grocery stores, mass market retailers, and convenience stores, intentionally excluding sales from movie theaters or other foodservice channels. Identifying the largest seller is complicated because the market is divided into distinct product types, and corporate consolidation plays a significant role as major food conglomerates own multiple brands. The dominant company typically achieves its position through a diversified portfolio that captures various consumer preferences.
Understanding the Popcorn Market Segmentation
The US retail popcorn market is fundamentally separated into three product categories that cater to different consumer needs. Ready-to-Eat (RTE) popcorn is the largest and fastest-growing segment, representing approximately 68% of total market revenue in 2024. RTE includes pre-popped, bagged popcorn that requires no preparation, appealing to the demand for convenient, grab-and-go snacking.
The second segment is Microwave Popcorn (MP). While a mature category, MP still holds a significant volume share of sales, prized for delivering a hot, fresh snack experience, particularly during at-home movie nights. The third category consists of unpopped kernels, sold in jars or bags for consumers who prefer stovetop or air-popped methods. The expansion of the RTE category has shifted the market focus from a traditional commodity to a branded, value-added snack food.
The Company Dominating Overall Retail Popcorn Sales
Conagra Brands, Inc. is the largest cumulative seller of popcorn in the United States retail market, primarily due to its strong portfolio in legacy categories. The company’s total popcorn revenue reached an estimated $1.40 billion in 2024, placing it ahead of competitors. This leadership is built on the strength of its two powerhouse microwave brands, Orville Redenbacher’s and Act II, which collectively anchor the microwave segment.
Conagra uses a dual-brand approach across different price points. Orville Redenbacher’s is positioned as a premium product, while Act II offers a budget-friendly option. This strategy ensures Conagra captures market share from both value- and quality-seeking consumers, maintaining its hold on the traditional popcorn market despite the rapid growth of RTE. The strategic advantage also lies in their established distribution networks and decades-long shelf presence.
Conagra’s overall lead is constantly challenged by companies dominating the higher-growth RTE category, such as PepsiCo and The Hershey Company. Their combined strength in the RTE space narrows the gap considerably. However, Conagra’s diversified approach, spanning microwave products and kernels, along with a growing presence in the RTE segment, provides the scale necessary to maintain the top spot in total retail sales.
Segment Leaders in Ready-to-Eat Popcorn
The Ready-to-Eat (RTE) popcorn segment is driven by innovation and premiumization, generating approximately $2.1 billion in sales for the period ending in early 2024. This segment is characterized by a strong focus on health claims and flavor novelty, which allows brands to command higher prices than traditional microwave products.
The brand leader is Smartfood, owned by PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, which reported sales of $571.1 million. Smartfood’s success is propelled by its massive distribution network, placing its White Cheddar variety alongside other salty snacks. Following closely is SkinnyPop, owned by The Hershey Company, which generated $445.9 million in sales. SkinnyPop built its brand around clean-label attributes, emphasizing non-GMO and low-calorie counts, aligning with the consumer trend toward “better-for-you” snacking.
Other significant players, such as Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP, contribute to the intense competition. The competitive strategy involves continuous flavor innovation, moving beyond simple butter and salt to offer gourmet and limited-edition varieties. The RTE market positions popcorn as a permissible indulgence, leveraging its whole-grain, fiber-rich profile to position it as a healthier alternative to potato chips.
Market Share Breakdown for Microwave Popcorn
The microwave popcorn segment, valued at nearly $1 billion annually, remains a steady, foundational part of the US popcorn market. This category is dominated by heritage brands, with market share driven by consistent quality, efficient distribution, and competitive pricing. Conagra Brands controls the majority of this market through its two flagship brands.
Orville Redenbacher’s is the top-selling microwave brand, amassing $306.7 million in sales, while Act II followed with $230.1 million. This combined force gives Conagra a commanding presence. The third major competitor is Pop Secret, which generated $176.8 million in sales.
The microwave market is mature, focusing innovation on functional improvements, such as better popping performance, reduced unpopped kernels, and the removal of certain chemical compounds. Market share is maintained through strong promotional activity and attractive pricing. The American Pop Corn Company’s Jolly Time brand also holds a dedicated, long-standing share of this market.
The Impact of Private Label and Store Brands
Private label and store brands collectively capture a substantial portion of sales volume in the overall popcorn market. These retailer-owned products appeal directly to price-conscious consumers who prioritize value over a national brand name. Their aggregated sales volume makes them a significant competitor to established national brands.
Private label growth is particularly strong in the kernel and basic microwave categories, where product differentiation is minimal and pricing is the main purchasing factor. In the broader salty snack category, private label unit sales increased by 2% while branded sales saw a decline. This growth indicates that retailers are increasingly partnering with suppliers to offer affordable options, pushing national brands to invest more heavily in branding and innovation to justify their premium pricing.
Key Strategies for Popcorn Market Success
Market leaders employ several coordinated strategies to secure and maintain their dominant positions in a competitive environment. Superior national distribution networks are foundational, ensuring products like Smartfood and Orville Redenbacher’s are consistently stocked on shelves across supermarkets, convenience stores, and online platforms. The logistics infrastructure of parent companies like PepsiCo and Conagra acts as a barrier to entry for smaller competitors.
Continuous product innovation is a central strategy, particularly in the high-growth RTE segment, where companies constantly introduce new flavors and limited-edition offerings. This focus on flavor and texture keeps the category fresh and encourages repeat purchases. Effective branding and marketing are also essential, with successful campaigns leveraging either nostalgia for traditional microwave brands or aligning with current health trends by emphasizing low-calorie, non-GMO, or organic attributes to attract modern snackers.