ABC Wednesday: P is for Popper Posh popcorn in the Dragons' Den

Popper Posh Popcorn is a brand of artisan popcorn and an enterprising venture by three teenagers. 

Alex, Sam and Tim are the brains behind the business, which has won through to the finals of the regional Dragons’ Den schools contest. The Year 10 boys make the popcorn in the food tech department at school, in a variety of flavours which include:

• Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper
• Early Christmas
• Sweet Chilli & Lime (my favourite)
• Chocolate Temptation
• Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar 

As their slogan says, it’s "popcorn without all that ‘naughty’ stuff". www.facebook.com/popperposh

It retails at £1.50 a box with all profits going to St. Ann’s Hospice. Popper Posh Popcorn is sold at their school events (Altrincham Grammar School for Boys) and also locally. They’ll have a stall at Altrincham Vintage & Artisan market on Sunday 18th November (11.00-3.30). The Little Deli Company on Stamford Park Rd by Altrincham’s Stamford Park have also agreed to sell the product. 

The boys also have an ingenious idea for a stocking filler- a make your own popcorn kit called DIY POP which contains a sachet of popcorn for you to cook, along with a sachet of your preferred flavouring plus ribbons and materials to decorate the box with.

The Dragons’ Den panel that they pitched to offered a three figure amount of pump-priming cash. The panel consisted of senior management from Thomas Cook, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Duty-Free shop at Manchester airport. The final is in the Concorde hanger at Manchester Airport. Good luck to Popper Posh Popcorn. 

I caught up with the young entrepreneurs during one of their mega popcorn making and packing sessions. This is what they had to say about their product: “Our name is a play on the saying 'proper posh' and incorporates the top hat to show the stereotypical features of a British gent. We produce virtually fat-free, guilt-free popcorn snacks, infused with sophisticated flavours at affordable prices. At Apollo Cinemas, a small popcorn box costs £3.25, the flavours are very dull, and the popcorn is cooked in oil. At Popper Posh, our popcorn will be much cheaper at £1.50, more exciting and healthier."

Linked to ABC Wednesday .