Del's Popcorn Shop USA Franchise Opportunity

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USA

Established

1934

Franchise Units

Minimum Investment

$279,365

Franchise Fee

$30,000

Total Investment Range

$478,393

Home Based

Description

Step into a sweet business venture with the Del's Popcorn Shop franchise, a unique and time-tested concept that has been delighting customers for over 90 years. More than just a gourmet popcorn store, Del's Popcorn Shop is a destination filled with nostalgia, offering a wide array of hand-crafted treats like flame-popped popcorn made with original 1934 recipes, traditional fudge, roasted nuts, and premium candies.

In a rapidly growing global popcorn market, predicted to reach an estimated $15 billion, Del's offers a distinctive position. We stand apart by blending an authentic, old-fashioned retail experience—complete with the tempting aroma of freshly popped corn and hand-whipped fudge—with modern multiple revenue streams, including robust e-commerce and corporate gifting sales. This allows our franchisees to tap into the market year-round, not just during seasonal peaks.

The Del's brand has survived and thrived through decades, including multiple economic downturns, proving its resilience and universal appeal. By becoming a Del's franchisee, you’re not just buying a business; you’re buying into a successful legacy, a proven operating model, and a beloved American tradition ready for national expansion. Join us in spreading joy, one delicious handful at a time.

Why Invest in this Franchise?

Investing in a Del's Popcorn Shop franchise offers several compelling advantages:

Proven, Time-Tested Resilience: Founded in 1934, the Del's brand has stood the test of time, succeeding through various economic climates, demonstrating the enduring popularity of its products.
Multiple Revenue Streams: Franchisees benefit from diverse sales channels, including in-store retail, a lucrative e-commerce platform (managed by the franchisor, with territory sharing), seasonal gifts, corporate gifting, and wholesale opportunities. This diversified model helps maintain strong sales throughout the year.
High-Demand Product Category: The global market for popcorn and confectionery is robust. Del's capitalizes on this with premium products—like popcorn popped over an open flame—that command customer loyalty and a premium price point.
Comprehensive Training & Support: The franchisor provides an in-depth, multi-week training program and continuous operational, marketing, and site selection support to ensure new owners are fully equipped for success.
Exclusive Territory: Franchisees are granted an exclusive operating territory, ensuring you are the only Del's Popcorn Shop within a defined area.
Manageable Operations: The business model is designed for a family-friendly operation with processes for making the proprietary recipes easy to learn and replicate, allowing for focused management.

Background

Detail	Information
Founded Year	1934 (as "The Popcorn Shop")
First Franchised	2020
Founders	John Baldwin (original founder in 1934). The name was later changed to Del's Popcorn Shop by Del Barnett (who purchased the business in 1946).
Current Headquarters	Springfield, IL
Industry Category	Food, Specialty Popcorn, Candy, and Confectionery Retail
Franchise Units (as of 2023)	2 Corporate Units (No franchised units as of the last reporting period, focusing on new franchise expansion)
Ownership	Del's Popcorn Shop Development LLC (currently led by CEO Rachelle "Shellie" Jacobs, part of the Jacobs family legacy)
Brand Journey	Started as "The Popcorn Shop" in Decatur, Illinois, during the Great Depression. Renamed to Del's Popcorn Shop in the 1940s/50s. The business has been guided by the commitment to original, proprietary, scratch-made recipes for decades, growing into an Illinois institution before launching its franchise program to expand its market presence across the USA.
Market Presence in USA	Primarily concentrated in Central Illinois (Decatur and Mt. Zion), poised for significant expansion across the Midwest and the wider U.S. market via franchising.

Support Training

Del's Popcorn Shop is committed to providing comprehensive support to ensure its franchisees can successfully replicate the brand’s nearly century of success.

Support Category	Detail
Initial Training (College of Popcorn Knowledge)	A detailed 21-day initial training program held at the corporate headquarters/training location in Springfield, IL. This includes 76 hours of classroom instruction and 92 hours of on-the-job training in an operating store. Training covers proprietary recipe preparation (flame-popped popcorn, fudge, nuts), business culture, product sales, local marketing strategies, inventory management, hiring, and customer service standards.
Pre-Launch & Site Selection	Assistance with the entire pre-opening process, including site selection guidance, lease negotiation support, and store build-out/design consultation to ensure your shop captures the authentic, nostalgic Del’s atmosphere.
Operational & Ongoing Support	Dedicated field operations support, a confidential operations manual, proprietary software access, and a franchisee intranet platform. Post-grand opening, a corporate representative will provide 4 days of on-site assistance and additional training. Ongoing support includes a toll-free help line and regular meetings and conventions.
Marketing & Advertising	Franchisees contribute to a system-wide marketing fund, supporting overall brand development. Local marketing guidance includes co-op advertising opportunities, ad templates, regional advertising strategy, and support for social media, SEO, website development, email marketing, and a customer loyalty program/app.
Purchasing	Access to preferred supplier relationships and purchasing co-ops to ensure quality control, consistency, and favorable pricing on raw materials, including the regionally sourced popcorn.

Ideal Candidate

Del's Popcorn Shop is seeking passionate, community-focused entrepreneurs who are eager to own a retail business that creates joy and positive memories for customers.

Profile Trait	Description
Entrepreneurial Drive & Passion	A genuine love for the product, community engagement, and a strong work ethic. While we welcome owners with business experience, we prioritize individuals with a dedication to delivering high-quality, handcrafted products and exceptional customer service.
Business Background	Previous retail, restaurant, or management experience is a plus, but not strictly required due to the extensive training program. Candidates should possess basic business acumen, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead a small team.
Investment Capability	Must meet the minimum financial requirements to qualify for investment. This includes: • Minimum Cash Requirement: $22,500 - $120,000 • Minimum Net Worth Requirement: $25,000 - $400,000
Operational Role	Ideally, we seek owner-operators who are actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business to foster community relationships and uphold quality standards. However, Absentee/Semi-Absentee ownership is allowed.
Location Preference	Suitable for high-traffic retail locations in community-focused towns, shopping centers, or historic downtown districts where the nostalgic brand can become a local destination. Exclusive territories are available.

Financial Detail

This section outlines the estimated investment range and ongoing financial commitments for opening a single Del's Popcorn Shop franchise.

Financial Metric	Detail (Estimated Range)	Notes
Total Initial Investment	$279,365 - $478,393	This includes all startup costs from the franchise fee through working capital.
Minimum Investment	$279,365	The low end of the total investment range.
Franchise Fee	$30,000	Due upon signing the Franchise Agreement; grants the right to use the trademarks and proprietary system.
Infrastructure/Build-Out	Included within the Total Initial Investment. Covers real estate improvements, equipment (poppers, kettles, display cases), signage, and initial inventory.
Working Capital	Included within the Total Initial Investment. Needed for initial operating expenses, payroll, and cash reserves until the business reaches a positive cash flow.
Royalty Fee	6% of Gross Sales	An ongoing fee paid to the franchisor for continued support and use of the operating system.
Ad Royalty Fee (Marketing Budget)	1.5% of Gross Sales	Contributes to the system-wide advertising and marketing fund. Some sources report this as 2%.
Term of Agreement	10 Years	The length of the initial franchise agreement, with options to renew typically available.
Potential Revenue Streams	Retail sales of Popcorn, Fudge, Nuts, and Candy; Corporate Gifting orders; Seasonal Tins and Gift Baskets; Revenue from shared territory sales on the brand’s national e-commerce website.
Expected ROI / Break-Even Time	Specific financial performance representations (ROI, Average Unit Volume, or Break-Even Time) are contained exclusively within the official Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which will be provided to qualified candidates for thorough review and due diligence.

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