Caramel Popcorn in a Pan – Easy, Fresh & Bulk Wholesale
Field Notes on Caramel Popcorn, Baked Right—and Why It Works in the Pan and in the Market
Last week I tested a batch of caramel popcorn in a pan for a story, and, to be honest, I ended up polishing off half the cup while taking notes. That says something. In fact, clean-label baked popcorn has quietly become the darling of the snack aisle—lighter texture, glossy caramel shell, fewer ingredients, more reliability.
Product snapshot (and why buyers care)
You’re looking at Grain Snacks INDIAM brand Popcorn Caramel Flavor, 118g per cup, packed 30 cups per carton, made by Hebei Cici Co., Ltd. at 33 Gongye Road, Jinzhou City, Hebei, China. The company positions itself as a pioneer in baked popcorn—non-GMO, no artificial ingredients or flavors, always gluten-free and trans-fat free. Certifications include ISO22000, HACCP, HALALA, and FDA. OEM? Yes, they’ll customize.
| Product | INDIAM Popcorn Caramel Flavor 118g/Cup |
| Pack Specs | 118g per cup; 30 cups/CTN |
| Process | Baked popcorn category; caramel coating and controlled drying |
| Typical QC Data (≈) | Moisture 2–3%; aw ≤0.45; sieve uniformity ≥90% ball-shaped kernels (real-world use may vary) |
| Shelf Life | ≈9–12 months unopened, cool/dry storage |
| Claims | Non-GMO, gluten-free, trans-fat free, no artificial ingredients or flavors |
| Origin | Hebei, China |
Process flow, briefly
Materials: non-GMO corn kernels, caramel syrup (sugar, oil/butter-equivalent, salt), natural flavor. Methods: baked popping, pan-tumble caramelization, glazing, controlled drying for crunch, cooling, metal detection, and sealed cup filling. Testing standards typically align with ISO22000 and HACCP plans; spot checks include water activity, moisture, sensory panels, and seal integrity. Service life hinges on barrier packaging and stable aw—hence the tidy cup.
Where it sells (and why it sticks)
Application scenarios: cinemas and events (no messy butter), office micro-markets, convenience retail, airline buy-on-board, and e-commerce multipacks. Many buyers say the ball-like, even coating reduces “sugar shatter” in transit. For home cooks, yes, caramel popcorn in a pan is a mood, but consistent baked texture in a sealed cup is hard to beat on a busy weeknight.
Vendor landscape—quick comparison
| Vendor | Process | Certifications | OEM | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDIAM (Hebei Cici) | Baked, controlled drying | ISO22000, HACCP, HALALA, FDA | Yes | 118g cup; 30/CTN |
| Generic Microwave Brand | Oil/microwave popped | Varies | No | Bags; cook-at-home |
| Local Artisanal Kitchen | Small-batch kettle | Limited/Local | Sometimes | Pouches; short shelf life |
Customization and lead times
OEM options include private-label graphics on cups, flavor tweaks (still caramel-first), carton counts, and barcodes. Typical production lead time is around 20–30 days after artwork signoff—shipping, obviously, depends on lane. Surprisingly flexible for a high-volume plant.
Case notes from the field
- Southeast Asia chain supermarket: after swapping in INDIAM caramel cups, weekly sell-through rose ≈28% in six weeks (manager cited cleaner labels and tidy display).
- Boutique cinema group: reported fewer sticky cleanup incidents and more consistent crunch. I guess the sealed cup helps.
Customer feedback trends: “light but crunchy,” “not oily,” and, yes, “kids keep stealing mine.”
For home snackers, caramel popcorn in a pan scratches the DIY itch; for trade buyers, baked-plus-certified reliability wins the category. Different lenses, same craving.
Standards and references
- ISO 22000: Food Safety Management Systems—Requirements. https://www.iso.org/standard/65464.html
- Codex Alimentarius: General Principles of Food Hygiene & HACCP Annex. https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius
- U.S. FDA: 21 CFR Part 117—Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-117
Post time: Oct . 16, 2025 09:50
