For Marilyn Yang, the CEO and Co-Founder of Fun-Gal Snacks, the parent company of Popadelics Crunchy Mushroom Chips, creating a new superfood snack inspired by her Asian culture and upbringing was a full-circle moment.
“Growing up, kids would make fun of me in school for bringing ‘ethnic’ foods to lunch. Now, I’m bringing my own twist on one to the market in a new and fresh way, with on-trend packaging that will look great in any lunchbox.”
Popadelics are crunchy shiitake mushroom chips that are cooked using a unique process called vacuum frying, which allows ingredients to preserve more of their nutrients and allowing for an enjoyable crunch and texture.
The chips come in three culinary-inspired flavors (all vegan, gluten free, non-GMO, and kosher):
- Trippin’ Truffle Parm
- Twisted Thai Chili
- Rad Rosemary & Salt
The idea for Popadelics was conceived by Yang during quarantine in 2020, when she noticed the growing popularity of mushrooms in supplements, culture, and more. In terms of snacks, however, mushrooms had yet to make a significant impact. “Most of the comparable options on the market, like kale chips, have been around for a long time. It was an opportunity to create something new, at least for U.S. consumers.”
While starting a business amid a global pandemic was not easy by any means, Yang tapped into her finance background and quickly got the brand off the floor, with it debuting its flagship products in April 2022.
Popadelics has since grown to garner a loyal following and over 300 retail locations nationwide and counting, with plenty of opportunities for retail on the horizon.
To learn more about Popadelics and order your own variety pack, visit the website at popadelics.com. A portion of all sales also supports the Fun-Gal Snacks Foundation, which supports various health and wellness causes.
