Kristy and Coulter Lewis graduated from Darien High School in 1999. Now, from 2,000 miles away in the Rockies, their organic popcorns have boomeranged east. Regional venues are marketing their kale, chipotle and real-butter popcorn in the couple”™s former home county.
The Lewises are popcorn entrepreneurs with an award-winning company, Quinn Popcorn, based in Boulder, Colo.
They describe themselves as longtime popcorn lovers who were dissatisfied with the microwave options on the market.
They bill their product as the first chemical-free microwave popcorn with a compostable bag of natural ingredients.
“Innovative flavors” include Cheddar & Chipotle, which features organic cheddar cheese, and Kale & Sea Salt, marketed as “the first green superfood popcorn.” Other flavors include Quinn”™s Parmesan & Rosemary, Vermont Maple and Real Butter. With some flavors, there are separate spice pouches for the consumer to add.
Quinn Popcorn launched in 2011 with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Its ingredients include “non-GMO verified, gluten free, U.S.-grown popcorn, organic kale and organic carrots” and, in the end, a cup has fewer than 40 calories.
The product is now sold in stores nationally and locally, including in the Whole Foods stores in Darien, Westport, Greenwich and Fairfield; and in Palmer”™s Market on Heights Road in Darien; and Flea in Rowayton, a boutique at 1588 Rowayton Ave.
Quinn Popcorn honors include the 2014 Prevention”™s Cleanest Packaged Food Award from Prevention magazine and a place on the 2013 Most Innovative Consumer & Retail Brands list from Forbes magazine.
