Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Leigh.
Hi Tom, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Sure, our story actually started right here in LA: chatting at a farmers’ market in West Hollywood. I’d recently traveled to LA from London on holiday, and one weekend I got talking to a guy called Michael, who turned out to be a teacher.
We bonded over food and started talking about how popcorn has never really evolved. You’ve got your massive sugary cinema tubs on one end, and your plain “healthy” bags on the other, but nothing in between that actually felt creative or fun.
It seemed crazy to us. Popcorn is the ultimate canvas, so why wasn’t anyone doing anything interesting with it?
That’s where the seed for Tommy Popcorn was planted. Soon after, I brought in my business partner Jason, and together we started to build the idea into something much bigger than just a snack.
My background is in marketing and fundraising, so I approached it like building a story first and a product second. We wanted a popcorn brand that had character, a world you could step into. That became “Tommy,” our fictional 1950s Brooklyn character whose love for popcorn runs through everything we do.
We started testing some flavors online and with small retailers, and the response was amazing. From there, it’s just snowballed; we’ve gone from local LA roots to huge partnerships, and now Tommy Popcorn is expanding across the U.S.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not smooth, but I challenge you to find me one start-up story that is! We’ve had our fair share of bumps along the way, and the truth is, we’re barely getting started!
Food manufacturing is a tough world to break into, especially when you’re trying to do something different. It takes a lot of testing and a lot of red tape to wade through.
We’ve spent a lot of time working out which flavors we want to launch. My background is in marketing, so it was important for me to come at this from a data-first perspective. And trust me, when you tell your business partners you want to create whiskey-flavored or marshmallow popcorn and they’re instantly on board – you know you’ve found the right people!
Fundraising was another challenge. I’ve helped other companies raise money before, but doing it for yourself is a whole new level of pressure. You live and breathe every conversation, every question, every number, every setback.
And of course, starting something when the economy is a little choppy meant we had to be scrappy. We built the brand from the ground up, literally from a small kitchen, taste-testing every flavor ourselves. I think we even forced our families to try garlic bread popcorn at one point!
But these moments have all been part of the journey. They’ve shaped the brand’s personality, and I couldn’t be prouder of where we are.
We’ve been impressed with Tommy Popcorn, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’re Tommy Popcorn, named after our fictional founder, “Tommy,” who’s this 1950s Italian-American guy from Brooklyn, completely obsessed with popcorn.
Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know? What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for? What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud brand wise? What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
Tommy Popcorn is all about giving popcorn its craft moment. We make gourmet popcorn that’s tasty, nostalgic and full of personality.
What makes us different is that we lead with story, not product. Most snack brands talk about calories or protein – we talk about character. Every flavor, design, and word we write is inspired by Tommy’s world: this cinematic version of 1950s Brooklyn.
We’ve also been really data-driven from day one. Before making a single flavor, we analyzed what people were actually searching for online and built our lineup around that. That’s how we ended up with things like Empire State (New York pizza flavor), Golden Irish (whiskey and vanilla), Mallow Magic (marshmallow-infused), Sweet Cinnamon, and Iconic Caramel. It might seem like a strange mix, but they are grounded in what people actually want.
What I’m most proud of is that people connect with it instantly. We get a lot of messages from partners saying our popcorn makes them smile, or that the branding reminds them of old-school New York. For a snack brand, that’s the best feeling.
At the end of the day, we’re not just selling popcorn, we’re building a world people can be part of.
How do you think about happiness?
Creating things that make people feel something. That’s honestly what drives me. Seeing someone’s face light up when they try a flavor they weren’t expecting, that’s magic.
And personally, I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by creative people who care about what they do. Whether it’s my team brainstorming flavor names or talking to real customers, those are the moments that remind me why we started.
Also, popcorn. Genuinely! I eat it every day. I still get excited opening a new bag, even after hundreds of taste tests. That’s when I know we’re doing something right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tommypopcorn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommy.popcorn/
