American Farmer Popcorn
 American Farmer Popcorn offers such products as Sweet and Salty Kettle Popped Corn and Old School Movie Theater Popped Corn.

NEW YORK — American Farmer Popcorn, which offers bagged popped corn and kernels, has partnered with Bickel’s Snack Foods in a distribution alliance. York, Pa.-based Bickel’s Snack Foods is a subsidiary of Hanover Foods.

Under terms of the agreement, Bickel’s will distribute American Farmer Popcorn to more than 5,000 grocery, drug chains and big box retailers across the states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York. American Farmer said the alliance represents “an incredible opportunity,” introducing the brand to new territories and galvanizing its popularity in states such as New York, where American Farmer is already well-known.

Bickel's Snack Foods delivery truck
Bickel’s will distribute American Farmer Popcorn to more than 5,000 grocery, drug chains and big box retailers.

Formed three years ago, American Farmer Popcorn has made a mark in the snack category, offering such products as Sweet and Salty Kettle Popped Corn, Old School Movie Theater Popped Corn, Slim n’ Light Kettle Popped Corn, Blue Butterfly Kernels and Ruby Red Butterfly Kernels. The company said it expects to post double-digit sales growth in 2017.

American Farmer said it pops its corn in small batches to create “a unique combination of sweet and savory flavors that harkens back to a simpler time.”

Meyer Futersak, American Farmer Popcorn
Meyer Futersak, founder and c.e.o. of American Farmer Popcorn

“We have long been admirers of Bickel’s products and culture and are thrilled to have been selected as part of their distribution assortment,” said Meyer Futersak, founder and chief executive officer of American Farmer Popcorn. “I believe this will open a myriad of new opportunities for American Farmer, while we provide Bickel’s with a delicious, healthy new snack alternative to their millions of lifelong customers.”

Bickel’s Potato Chip Co. was formed in 1954 by Luther Bickel in Lancaster County, Pa. It was a regional family-run business offering a “seared” potato chip in an array of flavors. Then, in 1998, Bickel’s was purchased by Hanover Foods Corp. — the largest privately-owned manufacturer of frozen, canned, fresh, and freeze-dried food products in the United States. Bickel’s owns York Snacks, Bon Ton Potato Chips, WEGE Pretzel Co. of Hanover, Pa., and Troyer Farms (including Dan Dee Pretzel & Potato Chip Co., and Seyfert Foods, an Indiana-based snack food producer).

Bickel's Snack Foods
Bickel’s began as a regional family-run business offering a “seared” potato chip in an array of flavors.
 
“We are incredibly excited to select American Farmer Popcorn for distribution across all our channels,” said Brynt Little, director of sales, Bickel’s. “They have a dynamic brand that is both bold, and promises to diversity our product mix.”