Tiny but Mighty Popcorn
| File:Tiny but Mighty Popcorn.png | |
| Industry | Food |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 in Urbana, Iowa, United States |
| Founder | Richard Kelty |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Revenue | $3 million–$5 million (2015) |
| Owners | Gene Mealhow Lynn Mealhow |
Number of employees | 18 (2015) |
| Website | tinybutmightyfoods |
Tiny but Mighty Popcorn is a heritage popcorn brand from the United States, originally established in 1981 by Iowa farmer Richard Kelty under the name K&K Popcorn. In 1999, ownership transferred to Iowa farmers Gene and Lynn Mealhow, who rebranded the company.
Kelty family
The Kelty family has cultivated an heirloom popcorn variety since 1854, known for its small kernels with hulls that break down after popping, delivering a more flavorful experience. This popcorn traces back to Native American seeds passed down to the Kelties. Initially intended for personal consumption, Richard Kelty revived this crop on his Urbana farm after retiring from military service in the mid-1970s.
By 1981, Richard and his wife Rita expanded their planting from a few rows to ten acres to satisfy growing local interest, leading to the creation of K&K Popcorn. By 1995, production extended over 125 acres, with distribution reaching nearly every U.S. state through mail orders and retail outlets such as Hy-Vee. Their marketing approach included in-store tastings and coverage by CBS alongside various print media, which significantly increased consumer demand.
The popcorn maintained its non-hybridized and non-GMO status, grown through open pollination and selective seed saving. The plants typically grew four to five feet tall, each kernel generating multiple stalks with several small ears under three inches—an attribute that distinguished the business within the heirloom popcorn sector.
Mealhow purchase
During the 1990s, eastern Iowa farmer and soil consultant Gene Mealhow and his wife Lynn—who had been cultivating organic crops since 1989—partnered with Kelty to enhance his popcorn cultivation. On July 1, 1999, the Mealhows purchased the company, allowing Kelty to retire. At that time, popcorn was grown on 130 acres. The Mealhows transferred processing operations to their farm near Shellsburg, Iowa, adopting organic farming practices emphasizing soil health and eliminating pesticide use.
Soon after acquiring the business, they obtained a $40,000 forgivable loan from Iowa’s Value Added Agricultural Products and Processes Financial Assistance Program (VAPPFAP), supported by local development organizations. These funds facilitated upgrades to processing facilities and marketing efforts, including launching an official website. With their son Nate leading marketing initiatives, sales steadily increased each month, prompting expansion of cultivation to 320 acres to fulfill rising demand.
In September 2000, K&K Popcorn secured a second $40,000 forgivable loan through VAPPFAP to finance additional processing machinery and storage capacity. As part of the funding requirements, the Mealhows contracted local farmers—15 by 2000 and growing to 18 by 2003—to produce organic popcorn crops, further solidifying their footprint in the organic market.
By October 2014, Tiny but Mighty Popcorn employed eight full-time workers and managed over 200 acres across Iowa and Illinois. By May 2015, staff numbers had increased to 18 employees with annual revenues estimated between $3 million and $5 million and average yearly sales reaching approximately 1.6 million pounds of popcorn. Gene Mealhow anticipated scaling production to achieve annual sales of 15 million pounds within three to five years.
Products and availability
When Mealhow acquired the company, K&K Popcorn was distributed through Fareway outlets. Initially, Whole Foods Market hesitated to stock the product; however, after a store manager in Chicago agreed to carry it for a trial month, growing consumer interest resulted in its placement across all Chicago Whole Foods stores. By the year 2000, K&K's popcorn was promoted as the world's tiniest, with founder Gene Mealhow emphasizing the enhanced taste delivered by the smaller kernels.
By 2002, K&K provided un-popped popcorn packaged in sizes ranging from one to five pounds, as well as a 50-pound bulk option, alongside multiple pre-popped flavor varieties. The product was available nationwide through mail orders and sold in Hy-Vee stores spanning seven states. Gene Mealhow pointed out the "disappearing hull" characteristic, which particularly appealed to customers with digestive sensitivities, especially among Florida's senior population. Unlike more recent popcorn types, this heirloom variety was not well-suited for microwave preparation.
In 2003, Market Square Food Company Inc., located in Highland Park, Illinois, began sourcing raw popcorn from K&K to pop and package under the name "The World's Tiniest Popcorn We Think." This line was introduced in Iowa featuring four distinct flavors, while K&K maintained sales of preservative-free un-popped popcorn free from artificial colors and flavorings.
By 2013, K&K Popcorn could be found in the majority of Fareway and Hy-Vee locations as well as approximately 40 Whole Foods stores throughout the Midwest and Eastern U.S. The company had launched a ready-to-eat product line and collaborated with national distributor KeHE to broaden distribution to around 30,000 grocery outlets across the country. In October 2014, a microwavable version was introduced alongside pre-popped flavored selections such as white cheddar.
Industry experts commended the brand’s distinctive offerings: Kaitlyn Goalen of Tasting Table remarked that the company’s "tiny kernels are redefining our beloved cinema snack," while Evan S. Benn of the Miami Herald recognized Tiny but Mighty Popcorn as a premier heirloom type featuring a sweet, nutty taste and hulls that dissolve upon popping—factors that increase its appeal to consumers.