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Entrepreneur pursues her passion

Edgemont Village’s Sarita Fichtner credits passion with helping make her new gourmet popcorn company such a success right out of the gate.

Edgemont Village’s Sarita Fichtner credits passion with helping make her new gourmet popcorn company such a success right out of the gate.

“I’m extremely passionate by nature and that can be both a blessing and a curse but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” says the 28-year-old owner and founder of The Popcorn Bar. “I just had this feeling I was meant to be doing something I was really passionate about and I thought, ‘OK what can I do? What can I start up?’ Off the top of my head a popcorn shop was always a big idea.”

Having long been “obsessed” with popcorn, Fichtner had been mulling over the concept of launching her own related business for a number of years. Her dream started becoming a reality in February when she began reading some books, and started an Instagram account chronicling her thought and inspiration process. Through that social media account she won a branding contest. While she didn’t actually end up using the prize, as a result of the publicity received from winning, she started receiving orders in May. The Popcorn Bar took off and she has been busy ever since.

“We’ve been floored with what’s happened so far and I’ve totally surpassed expectations of what I thought might happen in this short period of time. I really do like the direction it’s headed,” she says.

“I do think being authentically passionate about it really helps because the enthusiasm is a little bit magnetic. I think Instagram has done tons for us, we haven’t really spent any money on marketing. People like the look. It’s more of an upscale, elegant, trendy, gourmet snack as opposed to your average grocery store, generic brand. So the look of it, but then also, once you actually try, you’re like ‘wow.’ The reaction to the actual flavours has also been very exciting to see because people are loving it,” she adds.

Fichtner’s current offerings include eight exclusive flavours, a mix of savoury and sweet, ranging from Dillicious, a Dill and Herb, to Pink Confessions, a Pink Chocolate Skor
Blend, respectively.  

“We pull from everything for inspiration,” she says. For example, her parents, from India and Ireland, are great chefs, and have brought their unique perspectives to some flavours. For others, Fichtner says it’s about looking at what hasn’t been done before as well as simply trial and error.

“It’s not always a hit, but then sometimes we’ll make something and we just know, OK, yeah, let’s go with this,” she says.

When asked what flavour has proven to be the most popular thus far, Fichtner says it’s difficult to pinpoint.

“Kids love the (Sweet Celebrations) White Chocolate Sprinkles Blend, but that being said, so does my husband. The Caramel Crunch is definitely a more mature, salted, sophisticated caramel flavour. Those two have been quite popular. Then I would also have to say the (Holy Smoke) Smoky BBQ. It’s definitely a spin on your average barbecue, and the (Nirvana) Indian Spice Blend, which my parents came up with. It’s got turmeric and cumin and all this fun stuff. It’s really nice. It pairs very well with beer and wine,” she says.

The Popcorn Bar also creates seasonal flavours. Her recent autumn-inspired blend was Pumpkin Pie, a Pumpkin Spice Blend, which she has followed up with the holiday-inspired Gingerbread Caramel Crunch, which has just been “perfected.”

Fichtner’s popcorn is available at pop up markets, all of which are posted on her company website. In addition, The Popcorn Bar takes private orders and she is happy to work with customers on products including gift boxes, party favours, batches of popcorn and full popcorn bar set ups. “We try to be quite customizable to what people are thinking,” she says.

The popcorn is handcrafted locally and Fichtner is grateful to her family, husband Tyler, sister Shauna, dad Shashi and mom Denise, who have continued to help her along the way.

“I couldn’t stress it enough, it wouldn’t be done without them because they’re everything from my delivery drivers to my accountants and business advisors and taste testers,” she says.

In terms of future goals, Fichtner hopes to forge relationships with and get her popcorn carried by local craft breweries, as well as artisanal shops. She also hopes to eventually offer online shopping on her website and continues to dream of opening a storefront.

For more information on The Popcorn Bar, visit its website, thepopcornbar.ca, or visit the company on Instagram at @the.popcorn.bar.