Our Story
It started with a moment
we couldn’t ignore.
The founders
Derrick & Tavia Jackson
Husband and wife. Veteran and woman owned. Three kids, one very well-timed birthday, and a popcorn company that started at their own kitchen table in Concord, North Carolina.
In 2020, the world changed.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought uncertainty, isolation, and the cancellation of so many of the gatherings people cherished most. Family traditions paused. Celebrations were postponed. Sporting events, festivals, church gatherings, and everyday moments of connection suddenly looked very different.
Like many families, husband-and-wife founders Derrick and Tavia Jackson found themselves at home with their three children, then ages nine, seven, and just eight months old, reflecting on happier times.
They talked about childhood memories, family movie nights, festivals, sporting events, church gatherings, celebrations, and time spent with the people they loved.
As they reminisced, they noticed something unexpected.
Popcorn had always been there.
It was woven into so many of life’s happiest moments, yet it was almost always in the background.
That sparked a simple but powerful question:
What if popcorn became part of the celebration instead of simply being the snack on the sidelines?
Before starting a business, Derrick and Tavia decided to turn the idea into a lesson for their children. They wanted them to understand that businesses don’t simply appear. They begin with an idea, followed by questions, research, planning, courage, and action.
So they gathered the kids and shared what they were thinking.
That’s when their seven-year-old daughter said something no one expected.
“Mom… Creed was born on National Popcorn Day.”
The room stopped.
Their youngest son, Creed, had indeed been born at 1:00 a.m. on January 19 — National Popcorn Day. Somehow, their seven-year-old had remembered.
For Derrick and Tavia, that moment felt like more than a coincidence. It was the confirmation they needed to stop talking about the idea and begin building it.
And Popstarz Popcorn was born.
What began as a family conversation during one of the most uncertain seasons in modern history has grown into a brand built on a simple belief: life gives us moments worth celebrating.
Today, Popstarz creates handcrafted gourmet popcorn that helps make those moments even more memorable. From family celebrations and thoughtful gifts to corporate appreciation, fundraising, hospitality, sporting events, and unforgettable experiences, every batch is made with creativity, premium ingredients, and a commitment to bringing people together.
Founded at the family table in Concord, North Carolina.
Jacksons. Two founders, three kids, one very well-timed birthday.
National Popcorn Day, and Creed’s birthday. Nobody in this family thinks that was an accident.
Because popcorn was never really just about the popcorn.
It was about the movie nights. The celebrations. The victories. The people gathered around you. The memories you never realized you were making until years later.
At Popstarz, we’re honored to be part of those moments.