Miller's Gourmet Popcorn meets Fountain City Snacks

Miller's Gourmet Popcorn meets Fountain City Snacks

Fountain City Snacks + Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn: A New Chapter in Belton, Missouri

For years, Fountain City Snacks has been about more than chips, popcorn, and candy. It grew out of long nights on the road, early-morning store visits, and a deep pride in Kansas City. We started KC Munchies in March 2009 with one goal: bring great snacks to local convenience stores and prove that two brothers-in-law with a pickup truck and a lot of grit could build something real.

That journey took us from Kansas City to Chicago, where an 83-year-old snack company, CJ Vitner, reluctantly agreed to let us represent their brand farther from home than anyone had before. From there we added Snyder’s-Lance, Snack King, Rap Snacks, King Henry’s, Carley’s Brand Cookies, and more—eventually supplying over 200 locations across the metro.

We’ve pushed through the Great Recession, stayed on the road as essential workers during COVID, and rebuilt from a fire in October 2018 that wiped out everything we owned. Through it all, one dream stayed in front of us: create our own Kansas City snack brand.

On December 10, 2024, that dream became official when KC Munchies received its registered trademark for Fountain City Snacks. Every bag of Fountain City Snacks supports the City of Fountains Foundation, helping preserve the fountains, sculptures, and memorials that give Kansas City its character.

Now we’re ready for the next step.

From Distributor to Maker: Our Belton Facility

To take Fountain City Snacks to the next level, we needed a home base that could do it all—warehouse, production, and a space where customers could experience the snacks in person. So we bought a building in Belton, Missouri and began converting it into exactly that.

Inside this building is:

  • A warehouse to support our growing network of convenience stores

  • A full production facility where we cook, coat, and package popcorn

  • A soon-to-open retail store where you can walk in, sample flavors, and take your favorites home

One of our favorite features of the build-out is a set of large interior windows between the retail area and the production floor. When you visit, you won’t just see bags on shelves—you’ll be able to watch fresh batches of gourmet popcorn tumbling in kettles and freeze-dried candy coming off the line in real time. While you’re here, you’ll also be welcome to enjoy free samples of whatever fresh popcorn we have on hand. We love helping customers try new flavors and serving up “taste tests” as we continue to develop, create, and invent new recipes and flavor combinations.

You’ll shop on one side of the glass while the popcorn magic happens on the other.

Welcoming Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn Into the Family

As we were building this new chapter for Fountain City Snacks, another opportunity came along: the chance to purchase the Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn brand.

Many Kansas Citians already know Miller’s for its movie-theatre roots, classic recipes, and loyal following. Instead of seeing that legacy fade away, we decided to bring it forward.

We acquired:

  • The Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn brand

  • Its equipment and recipes

  • The tradition of rich, buttery flavors that customers remember

All of that is now produced in our Belton facility.

This means:

  • Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn lives on with the same recipes people love

  • Production is now local to our new home in Belton

  • We can control quality from start to finish and experiment with new flavors while honoring the originals

Two Brands, Two Paths, One Mission

So how do these two brands fit together?

Fountain City Snacks

  • Built for retail convenience stores and grab-and-go snacking

  • Focused on bold flavors, fun packaging, and supporting the City of Fountains Foundation with every bag

  • You’ll see Fountain City Snacks on shelves across the Kansas City area and beyond

Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn

  • Focused on online orders and, soon, an in-person experience at our Belton retail shop

  • Perfect for gift tins, party bags, and specialty flavors

  • Produced fresh in the same facility, using the same care and attention that made the brand a local favorite

In short:

  • When you’re filling a snack rack or grabbing something at the gas station, you’ll reach for Fountain City Snacks.

  • When you’re sending a gift, planning a movie night, or treating yourself to gourmet popcorn, you’ll find Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn ready online and, soon, in our own storefront.

What’s Coming Next

As we finish out the build in Belton, here’s what you can look forward to:

  • A retail shop where you can sample flavors of popcorn and freeze-dried candy

  • Watching popcorn being produced through those big interior windows

  • Limited-run flavors and seasonal creations under both Fountain City Snacks and Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn

  • More convenience stores carrying Fountain City Snacks across the region

We started with a truck, a few shelves, and a belief that Kansas City deserved outstanding snacks. Now we’re roasting, popping, and packaging our own brands in a building we rebuilt for that exact purpose.

Thank you for being part of this story—from the early-morning deliveries to the new Belton facility, from Fountain City Snacks on the shelves to Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn in your mailbox. We can’t wait to show you what’s popping next.

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