Dow AgroSciences and Weaver Popcorn Company Collaborate for Heart-Healthier Microwave Popcorn

Omega-9 Canola Oil enhances taste, health of Pop Weaver microwave popcorn

Indianapolis – June 2, 2010

Two local Indiana companies, Dow AgroSciences and Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc., have partnered to create a new and improved Pop Weaver^® microwave popcorn, designed to bring healthier snacking to consumers across the country. The new Pop Weaver is made with Omega-9 Canola Oil, developed by Dow AgroSciences, making it one of the only microwave popcorns to introduce canola oil into its products. This new product is among the healthiest microwave popcorn on the market with the same rich, buttery flavor Pop Weaver customers love.

The new Pop Weaver microwave popcorn, which is not a line extension but rather an entire replacement of the old formulation, was co-developed with the Omega-9 Solutions Team at Dow AgroSciences with a single goal in mind – maintain the Pop Weaver flavor consumers enjoy but enhance the health profile of the snack. All three flavors in the Pop Weaver microwave popcorn line – Light Butter, Butter and Extra Butter – have been reformulated to incorporate Omega-9 Canola Oil and are available at mass market and discount stores nationwide. Because these improved popcorns are made with Omega-9 Canola Oil, they have zero trans fat, significantly reduced saturated fat and are high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. 

"Popcorn itself is a naturally healthy whole grain snack and through our collaboration with Dow AgroSciences, we found a way to deliver the great buttery taste our consumers crave in a healthier manner," said Mike Weaver, president and CEO of Weaver Popcorn Company. "Delivering the same great taste, but with a healthier oil, is the type of innovation consumers deserve."

By shifting to Omega-9 Canola Oil, Pop Weaver increased the amount of "good fats" – monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes – while decreasing the amount of "bad fats" – saturated and trans fat. Popcorn naturally is a good source of fiber and antioxidants. Together, the Pop Weaver popcorn and Omega-9 Canola Oil combine for a snack that tastes great and also is significantly lower in fat and calories.

"Other popcorn manufacturers were removing trans fats by using palm oil or coconut oil, both of which dramatically increase saturated or 'bad' fats," said David Dzisiak, Commercial Leader Oils for Dow AgroSciences. "Our Omega-9 Solutions Team helped Pop Weaver develop a smarter solution – one that maintained their signature taste while improving the health profile of the snack."

Weaver believes in "Flavor First," so delivering the rich, buttery taste Pop Weaver is known for was a critical benchmark during product development. In internal tests, the Pop Weaver products with Omega-9 Canola Oil were perceived to have significantly better butter flavor than not only the current Pop Weaver but also key competitor products. Weaver conducted research with the most discriminating popcorn eaters across the country and kept making improvements until those consumers were satisfied. The Omega-9 Solutions Team provided application development, analytical support and commercial expertise to Weaver to help them develop the right product formulation. Pop Weaver microwave popcorn can be found at mass merchandisers and discount retailers nationwide.

The companies celebrated their partnership with a special internal event for Dow AgroSciences employees on June 2, 2010, at the company's headquarters.

About Pop Weaver
Pop Weaver is a leading national brand of microwave popcorn in the United States. It is produced by Weaver Popcorn Company, Inc., one of the largest producers and manufacturers of popcorn products in the world. An 80-year-old, family-owned company, Weaver Popcorn distributes its products in more than 90 countries.  Visit www.popweaver.com for more information.

About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company providing innovative agrochemical and biotechnology solutions globally.  The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has sales of $4.5 billion.  Learn more at www.dowagro.com.