We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Janette Miller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Janette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How has Covid changed your business model?

Brett and Janette Miller basically knew nothing about gourmet popcorn prior to starting this business. So, studying, researching, and building this business totally from scratch from the ground up was a rewarding challenge.

They also started building the business during the first year of the pandemic, so this timing created its own inherent challenges as well with finances and staffing often being impacted by the ongoing pandemic. It was a huge undertaking, but it has been worth every bit of it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a young boy of eleven, Brett Miller would go with his grandpa Arthur to see movies at Kansas City metro area movie theatres. Brett always enjoyed that experience with his grandfather and looked forward to getting popcorn and sodas as a snack along with their movie. Through the years, Brett eventually got into the theatre business and started popping popcorn at the age of 17.

Brett’s passion for the whole movie theatre experience was clear to all, and he almost immediately became an assistant manager at a young age. He learned that popping the best movie theatre hot buttered popcorn using the finest ingredients is a true craft. Throughout the years, Brett’s theatre popcorn is always a community favorite, earning his theatres the consistent reputation of “having the best popcorn of any movie theatre around”.

After over 20 years of movie theatre ownership, Brett decided it was time to expand his passion for popping popcorn and take his expertise to the next level. Along with his wife, Janette, and his whole family, the Miller Family created a gourmet popcorn division out of their movie theatre business. As a result, Miller’s Gourmet Popcorn was born. Now, you can enjoy the excellent quality and craftmanship of Brett’s original movie theatre popcorn as well as over 20 other hand-crafted gourmet flavors.

All gourmet popcorn is made on-site at Miller Theatres in Blue Springs, Missouri. We use only the finest ingredients available including coconut oil, real cheese, and Ghirardelli chocolates. The Miller Family always looks forward to sharing a bucket of our gourmet popcorn with your family!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Brett and Janette basically knew nothing about gourmet popcorn prior to starting this business. So, studying, researching, and building this business totally from scratch from the ground up was a rewarding challenge.

They also started building the business during the first year of the pandemic, so this timing created its own inherent challenges as well with finances and staffing often being impacted by the ongoing pandemic. It was a huge undertaking, but it has been worth every bit of it.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

Janette Miller is a retired middle school principal who retired to go to work with her husband at their movie theatre and then ended up championing the development and startup of their new gourmet popcorn division.

In addition to setting up the business from scratch, Janette has trained staff and refined and created recipes exercising her more creative side in a way she has always wanted to do. Janette loves coming up with especially the seasonal rotating gourmet popcorn menus and corresponding recipes.

She loves seeing the reaction of customers when they try the popcorn that they simply cannot get anywhere else and have never heard of before!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.millersgourmetpopcorn.com
• Instagram: @millersgourmetpopcorn.com
• Facebook: @millerspopcorn
• Twitter: @millerspopcorn
• Youtube: Tik Tok @millersgourmetpopcorn

Image Credits
Janette Miller