Our Story

From our farms to your family

In 1952, Orville Redenbacher hand selected a small group of family farmers to grow his exclusive kernel. Generations later, farmers like Richard Overmyer continue to grow that same special kernel that pops up lighter and fluffier than ordinary popcorn. Because your family deserves the very best.

“You'll like it better or my name isn't Orville Redenbacher.”

That's the promise Orville made more than 40 years ago—and the same promise we stand by today. Orville Redenbacher dedicated his life to perfecting a lighter, fluffier popcorn. Take a look at the life—and the TV personality—of everyone's favorite popcorn king.

Timeline

1907

Orville is born on a farm in Brazil, Indiana, which, as luck would have it, is a great place to grow corn. At 12 years old, Orville begins to grow his own popping corn. It becomes his passion, and his first business, allowing him to save enough for college, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Purdue University.

1944

Orville begins raising popcorn for the supermarket trade. It was about time someone put the “super” in supermarket. By 1965, Orville and his business partner Charles Bowman perfect their popcorn hybrid—it is light and fluffy, leaves hardly any unpopped kernels, achieves a 44:1 ratio in volume of popped to unpopped corn, and, of course, tastes great.

1992

Orville Redenbacher’s continues meeting the demands of health-conscious snackers by launching SmartPop!®–94% fat free popcorn.

2007

Orville Redenbacher’s launches the successful Naturals line–an all-natural snack that actually tastes good.

Today

Orville Redenbacher’s is the #1 Brand in Microwave Popcorn, Kernels, and Oils in the U.S.