The ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn market has exploded over the past few years. According to data from IRI, Chicago, RTE popcorn was up 12.67 percent in dollar sales for the 52 weeks ending Jan. 24, 2016 to $1.1 billion. Products ranging from simple and calorie-controlled to downright dessert-like have demonstrated a broad range of appeal.
While RTE is booming, microwave popcorn sales have fallen of late. Our most-recent look at that segment in early 2016 showed a slight drop over the past year, with sales hitting $980.6 million (a number that includes kernel popcorn, popcorn oil and microwave popcorn).