Meet Tom Leigh | Co-Founder at Gourmet Popcorn Company: Tommy Popcorn

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tom Leigh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tom, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, it sounds crazy, but it all started with a conversation at a farmers’ market in West Hollywood. I had recently traveled from London to LA, and one weekend I met Michael, who’s now my co-founder. He’s a teacher, and we started talking about how popcorn hadn’t really evolved or had its ‘craft’ moment the way chocolate or beer had.

We both felt there was space in the industry for something fun, something that actually had personality. A year later, we teamed up with our third co-founder, Jason Martinez Moreno, who’s a genius when it comes to digital strategy and data analytics. Together, we built Tommy Popcorn, a brand inspired by 1950s New York that is built on flavor, fun and storytelling.

That’s really what started it all, this idea that popcorn could be more than a snack. It could be an experience.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We’re Tommy Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn brand that combines storytelling, nostalgia and flavor in a way you haven’t seen before.

What makes us different is that we lead with creativity, not calories. Every other brand out there talks about being low-fat or high-protein, we talk about Tommy, our fictional 1950s Italian-American from Brooklyn, who’s obsessed with popcorn. His world is captured in everything we do; the packaging, the language, even the flavor names. It gives the brand heart and humor beyond the popcorn.

We also make decisions based on data. Before we made a single piece of popcorn, we analyzed what people were actually searching for online and found flavors they couldn’t find anywhere else.

That’s how we landed on Empire State (New York pizza flavor), Golden Irish (real whiskey and vanilla) as part of our opening lineup. They might sound crazy, but we knew they were flavors people were searching for.

Getting to this point definitely wasn’t easy. Manufacturing snacks in the U.S. as a newcomer to the F&B industry is tough. There were supply chain headaches, endless test batches and a lot of bumps along the way. But every small win, every person who smiled when they tried it, kept us going.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that people connect with authenticity. When you genuinely love what you’re building, it shows, and that’s what attracts customers and investors alike.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that Tommy Popcorn isn’t just a snack brand. It’s a story you can taste.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend were visiting LA for the week, we’d definitely start with a Sunday morning at the West Hollywood Farmers Market, that’s where the idea for Tommy Popcorn was born, so it feels symbolic.

We’d grab coffee from Alfreds Coffee Melrose Place and a bagel from Yeasty Boys, and then walk down Melrose to check out some vintage shops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I could name so many people, but first and foremost, Michael and Jason deserve a huge shoutout. Michael not only creates products that set us apart but is the driving force behind our kitchens, making sure each piece is popped to perfection. Michael has been there every step of the way, being our man on the ground whilst Jason and I have been building the business from London.

My other co-founder Jason, is a whizz at understanding what people want. He’s one of the best digital minds I’ve ever worked with, and his ability to read data has led us to create a lineup we know people are looking for.

And finally, LA itself deserves a shoutout. There’s something about the creative energy here that is incredibly inspiring for entrepreneurs. I mean, look at Tommy Popcorn; you can have a conversation on a Sunday at a farmers market, and by Monday, you’re building a brand around it.

Website: https://tommypopcorn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommy.popcorn/

Image Credits
Tommy Popcorn