Popcorn Kitchen has featured at a good few of our events over the years – sparking a great debate between Team Cheddar Cheese and Team White Chocolate and Raspberry. It’s the ultimate quest between Savoury vs Sweet Popcorn, but with extra flavour. Delicious.

Our love of Popcorn Kitchen goes beyond fast delivery of the perfect snack – it’s the team’s dedication to making treat worthy artisanal popcorn since 2012. Their ‘Pop At Home’ bottles have even made them Finalists in The Gift Of The Year 2024 Awards, which you can find out more about on their website.

We were delighted when Louise Monk, co-Founder of Popcorn Kitchen, agreed to have a quick chat with us to share her popcorn making process, and offer advice to City Girls wanting to pursue their own foodie dreams.

Let’s start with the goods… what's your process for creating new delicious popcorn flavours?   

There’s nothing very rocket science about my decisions because the starting point is always flavours that make me smile (lemon drizzle, chocolate brownie….) We make up some small batches of samples, send them to taste buds we trust (key buyers, friends and family and gauge their honest feedback.  

Popcorn Kitchen has so many incredible flavours. White Chocolate & Raspberry was a huge hit at our last City Girl Picnic event. What's your favourite?    

Clearly it’s never easy choosing between your children but I’d say Chocolate Mint after lunch and the clean unadulterated simplicity of salted when I’m with the family watching a movie.

Building an award-winning food business from the ground up is amazing - especially during a health and economic crisis. How have you personally looked after your wellbeing over the years?   

I am a hands-on business owner who remains slightly obsessed with the breakneck speed at which Popcorn Kitchen is travelling.  That said, I’ve always understood that a healthy mind is the by-product of a healthy body so make the gym, playing golf, time in the fresh air and healthy eating weekly priorities.

Creating food products is a big dream for so many of our City Girls. What advice would you give to those just starting out?  

Do your research because gut instinct only gets you so far.  It’s so important to have a top line appreciation as to whether there’s a market for your product.  It doesn’t matter if you’re contemplating joining a cluttered category because nothing stands still and if you have a distinct USP you can still secure meaningful cut-through.  By the same token have a flexible mindset because there’s inevitably some give and take when it comes to launching a business.

Take the time to create a plan with a clear vision, goals and objectives and stick to it.  Naturally there will be setbacks and wrong turns but take these as nothing more than  handy learnings.  Never dwell, or wonder ‘what if’ and certainly don’t beat yourself about factors that are simply beyond your control.  

And finally, if you could only choose one of your amazing product offerings for your best friend, which one would it be?

Without question our Home Poppin Kit that has chocolate mini eggs as its hero topping albeit our new popcorn topped chocolate bars are a very close 2nd!

Popcorn Kitchen is the perfect gifting treat for any occasion (and City Girl Picnic), available to buy on their website and at independent retailers across the UK.

Photography was provided by Popcorn Kitchen