30 November 2001
Flavoured popcorns brings jobs joy
FOOD industry experts at Manchester Metropolitan University are playing a part in a popcorn revolution!
New flavoured popcorns, like Chilli, Cheese or Barbecue, have been tested at the Faculty of Food, Clothing and Hospitality Management and will shortly be seen in the nation's supermarkets and cinemas.
The novel line is an important breakthrough for the region's food trade, spawning a brand new factory at Worsley, west Manchester, and giving new business to several companies, among them Warburton's and Duckworth's flavours.
A new company, Snack Solutions, has sprung up to produce the corn by way of a revolutionary baking method.
Snack Solutions is spending about £500,000 converting a former engineering workshop into a factory. About a dozen jobs will be created by the new firm, which has received a £70,000 grant from the DTI.
Managing director Tony Paulden said: "Normally popcorn is deep fried but ours will be baked with no fat or sugar additives, meaning it is cheaper to produce and healthier to eat.
"Not frying also means you can add any flavour you like to the process. When we went to MMU the popcorn tasted awful but via tasting panels and collaboration with Duckworth's flavours we've now got the flavours we want and are confident they're going to be a bit hit in the cinemas.
The University's North West Advanced Food Systems Centre also offered technical, quality and legislative advise which the company described as "pivotal" in the launch.
Manager Dr Geoff Archer said: "This is another success for the NWAFSC and another new product on the shelves thanks to innovation in the North West food industry."
