The latest opening of Doc Popcorn at Lalaport Mall in Fujimi, Japan this past week drew crowds of customers at its Grand Opening, which marked the second successful opening of the fresh-popped, kettle-cooked popcorn retail franchise in Japan.
Less than one year after the first Doc Popcorn grand opening in Tokyo, the Lalaport Mall PopShop is the latest step for the brand as it bolsters its international presence. The master franchise agreement, inked last March, will bring 10 Doc Popcorn locations to Japan, the third and fourth of which plan to open sometime this year.
Doc Popcorn at Lalaport Mall is owned and operated by FS Planning, an investment group with extensive experience building successful businesses within the restaurant, fast-casual and franchising industries including concepts such as Maxim de Paris, Vieille Vigne, Cote de Rouge, Dominique Saibron, and Radish Boy.
“The popularity and following of our fresh-popped, better-for-you snack in Japan is inspiring, given the competition in the marketplace,” says Rob Israel, cofounder and “Big Pop” of Doc Popcorn. “FS Planning has impressed us in their first year as master franchisors. They have delivered impressive results and created a tremendous presence for the brand. This will only continue to grow with each new location they open.”
As snacking trends continue to shift the traditional day parts across the world, Doc Popcorn is well positioned in the marketplace with its goal of revolutionizing snacking for the better. Using 100 percent corn oil, proprietary flavor blends, and high-quality ingredients, Doc Popcorn handcrafts a wide variety of freshly popped specialty flavors of popcorn, from Sweet Butter and Caramel Bliss to Hoppin’ Jalapeño and Cheesy Cheddar. Doc Popcorn’s flavors are whole grain, gluten free, and nut free with dairy-free and sugar-free options available.
Doc Popcorn has nearly 100 locations in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Japan, and is the largest franchised popcorn retailer in the world. Acquired last year by Fischer Enterprises, the investment firm that owns other snack and treat brands like Dippin’ Dots, Doc Popcorn is accelerating its points of presence domestically and internationally and will be exhibiting at the International Franchise Expo (IFE), to be held June 18–20 at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York. Company executives will be on hand to discuss franchising opportunities with qualified candidates.
