POP N GO COMING TO POP POPCORN AT 50 FOOD LION UNITS

WILLIAM SMYTH

WHITTIER, Calif. -- Pop N Go Inc. here, a specialty food-service manufacturer, will install 50 Pop N Go popcorn machines in Food Lion supermarkets due to a successful pilot program that began three months ago.

"We had three installed on a trial basis and now they're going with 50," said Tom Walters, director of field operations at the Baltimore office of Pop N Go. "Sales have gone very well and if it's what we anticipate, that could lead to an additional installment into the more than 1,200 Food Lion stores."

The machines have been placed at the ends of aisles and at the front end of the store, Walters said.

The self-contained equipment can be used as a stand-alone vending machine or in a manual mode for traditional food-service applications. There is one 6-foot-tall machine per store, and each pops a 46-ounce cup of popcorn and is good for 200 pops. The popcorn was being tested at $1 per cup of oil-free or natural butter-flavored popcorn.

"The machines are flashy and grab the attention of consumers and if parents have children with them, it grabs their attention as well," said Walters.

"Pop N Go's concept of providing a hot cup of popcorn popped fresh for each customer is exactly what today's consumer is seeking," said Mel Wyman, chief executive officer. "Pop N Go delivers a value-priced option for a healthy snack which fits right into Food Lion's innovative approach to food retailing."

Food Lion could not be reached for comment.