Angie’s Kettle Corn Founders Honored as 2012 Business Person of the Year

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Connect Business Magazine recognizes Dan and Angie Bastian 

 Mankato, Minn. — January 30, 2012 — Dan and Angie Bastian, co-founders and owners of Angie’s Kettle Corn, have been named Connect Business Magazine’s 2012 Business Person of the Year. Winners are chosen on the basis of character, leadership, business results, and community involvement. Now in its ninth year, the award honors business leaders from companies all over Minnesota.

“We couldn’t be more honored to receive this award,” said Dan Bastian. “We’ve put our heart and soul into this company and to be recognized with this award truly is an honor.”

“We started this company in our garage with nothing but a stainless steel kettle and a dream,” said Angie Bastian. “It was important for us to show our children that with hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.”

 And the Bastians have done just that. Since launching the company just ten years ago, Angie’s has gone from a part-time, family-run business to a 180-employee operation that manufactures up to 100,000 bags a day. Today Angie’s is the nation’s second best-selling kettle corn and can be found in leading grocery and natural food stores in 50 states.

 Dan and Angie are also known for giving back to the community. They remain involved with programs in support of youth and education, donate product to numerous area non-profits and give their employees paid time off to volunteer. A recent cause partner is Misfit Acres, a sanctuary for abused and neglected horses in Amboy, Minn., which recycles waste from Angie’s packaging operation.

“This award means a great deal to us,” said Angie Bastian. “And I hope it inspires others to see that it’s not only possible to pursue a dream but to actually see it comes true.”

About Angie’s Kettle Corn

Husband and wife entrepreneurs Dan and Angie Bastian founded Angie’s Kettle Corn in 2001 as a family-run, outdoor vendor operation. Today, Angie’s has increased in sales and popularity, moving the operation from outdoor festivals and events to a production facility with expanded distribution. Angie’s Classic, Caramel and Lite flavors are distributed to 50 states and found in locations that include Costco, SuperTarget, Target and Whole Foods as well as in co-ops, health food stores or ordered online.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/angieskettlecorn or Twitter @AngiesKettle.

 Media Contact:

Jeanne Carpenter
612-803-1282
jcarpenter@perception-ink.com

Filed Under: News and events, Press Room

Recipes For Angie’s Kettle Corn

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Angie’s Super Bowl Snack Mix

This traditional style snack mix is sure to score points at any party. The lightness of Angie’s Kettle Corn, combined with crunchy cereal and salty peanuts covered in caramel coating, will keep partygoers coming back for more. (download recipe)

Angie’s Holiday Cranberry Walnut Mix

For a more gourmet snack, this mix simply can’t be beat. Angie’s Kettle Corn tossed in a sweet cinnamon glaze with walnuts and tart cranberries is sure to be a party favorite! (download recipe)

Filed Under: News and events

Angie’s Inspired Recipes, Martinis and Decorating Ideas

September 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Angie’s Kettle Corn was featured in the Autumn, 2011 issue of Matthew Mead’s popular seasonal print magazine, filled with beautiful photos, recipes, and entertaining ideas. Included are recipes for Angie’s caramel ice cream and a kettle corn martini, as well as Halloween-inspired decorating ideas.
 
Filed Under: Featured, News and events

Angie’s Kettle Corn and the Minnesota Vikings Kick-off New Season With A Sweet Giveaway Contest for Fans

September 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 — Free tickets to a Vikings home game, a game-day parking pass and a prize package loaded with snacks from Angie’s Kettle Corn await lucky fans who enter to win “A Sweet Giveaway,” a contest sponsored by Angie’s, the official kettle corn of the Minnesota Vikings. The deadline for entering the contest is December 15th.

To enter, click the “Sweet Giveaway” button on Angie’s Kettle Corn Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/angieskettlecorn and submit the entry. Fans from all 50 U.S. states may participate.

For each home game during the season, one winner will receive two lower-level game tickets, a player-autographed Vikings mini-helmet, an Angie’s Kettle Corn swag bag filled with Angie’s Classic, Caramel and Lite Kettle, hat and t-shirt plus a game-day parking pass

“Vikings fans are the best in the League,” said Angie Bastian, namesake and co-founder of Angie’s Kettle Corn. “Whether we’re playing in the midst of a blizzard or in the comfort of the Metrodome, Vikings fans never want to miss a touchdown or tackle. In celebration of their loyalty and rousing team spirit, we’re offering this sweet giveaway.”

Angie’s has been the official kettle corn of the Minnesota Vikings since 2003. In addition to the Vikings, Angie’s Kettle Corn also sponsors the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx.

About Angie’s Kettle Corn
Husband and wife entrepreneurs Dan and Angie Bastian founded Angie’s Kettle Corn in 2001 as a family-run, outdoor vendor operation. Today, Angie’s has increased in sales and popularity, moving the operation from outdoor festivals and events to a production facility with expanded distribution. Angie’s Classic, Caramel and Lite flavors are distributed to all 50 states and found in locations that include Costco, SuperTarget, Target and Whole Foods, as well as in co-ops, health food stores or ordered online.

Media Contact
Jeanne Carpenter
www.perception-ink.com
612-803-1282

Filed Under: Events, News and events, Press Room

Angie’s Kettle Corn and the Minnesota Lynx Team Up to Host Girls’ Basketball Sweepstakes in Celebration of Teamwork

July 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

MANKATO — July 6, 2011 — Angie’s Kettle Corn, the official kettle corn of the Minnesota Lynx, is teaming up with the organization to host a contest for Minnesota girls’ youth and high school basketball players in grades 6-12.

To enter, contestants — individuals who play on a school or recreational team — need to complete an online entry at lynxbasketball.com/angies. In an essay of no more than 500 words or a video of two minutes or less, they are asked to answer, “What does it mean to be a part of a team, and what do you do as an individual to contribute to the success of your basketball team?” Entries, which must be received by Aug. 22, 2011, will be judged on originality, creativity and professionalism.

Six winners will be chosen to attend a Lynx game this season. Each winner will be able to invite up to 21 teammates for a special V.I.P. game-day experience that includes court-side seats for pre-game warm-ups, seating in a Target Center suite stocked with refreshments, and bags of Angie’s Kettle Corn for each guest. A post-game photo and autograph session with Lynx team members are also part of the prize.

“We’ve been very involved in supporting men’s sports teams over the years and are now equally as excited to sponsor this contest for young girls,” said Angie Bastian, company namesake and co-founder of Angie’s Kettle Corn. “We want to recognize and celebrate the leadership skills these girls gain every time they take to the court.”

In addition to the Minnesota Lynx, Angie’s Kettle Corn sponsors the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Timberwolves. The company recently became the sponsor of Sweet n’ Salty Cycling, a women’s cycling team that is part of the Minnesota Cycling Federation.

About Angie’s Kettle Corn
Husband and wife entrepreneurs Dan and Angie Bastian founded Angie’s Kettle Corn in 2001 as a family-run, outdoor vendor operation. Today, Angie’s has increased in sales and popularity, moving the operation from outdoor festivals and events to a production facility with expanded distribution. Angie’s Classic, Caramel and Lite flavors are distributed to 50 states and found in locations that include Costco, SuperTarget, Target and Whole Foods as well as in co-ops, health food stores or ordered online.

Media Contact
Jeanne Carpenter
www.perception-ink.com
612-803-1282

Filed Under: News, News and events, Press Room

How I Turned a Simple, Home-Based Business into a Multi-Million Dollar Company

May 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Angie Bastian

From the blog
Upstarts and Alpha Dogs
by Donna Fenn

My husband Dan and I started Angie’s Kettle Corn in 2001 in our garage in Mankato, Minnesota because we needed to establish a college fund for our daughter, Aunikah, and our son, Tripp, who were five and three at the time.  We were intrigued by the challenge of popping kettle corn because it’s a simple, festive food and we thought we could do it better than anyone already producing it. The goal was to work together as a family doing something fun. Our children were too small to understand that we also wanted to use this venture to teach them firsthand that if you start with a good idea, hard work and remain dedicated, that this idea could be put it into action.

I am a nurse practitioner and Dan is a history teacher. We didn’t have a lot of money but we had ambition and an objective. We decided to purchase kettle corn equipment on the Internet, which we financed with zero percent credit cards. We started selling our product at fairs and festivals with our children, who would help out by putting labels on the bags and later would accompany us to local events.  They learned how to make change, greet people, and the importance of saying ‘thank you’ to our customers.

Our big break came when we became the Kettle Corn of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team, where we built a fan base. The Vikings travel to Mankato every August for their annual training camp at Minnesota State University.  Dan and I spent a Sunday afternoon popping 120 bags of kettle corn. We donated these bags to the players and coaches as snacks for their Sunday evening film review. They loved it! The next day the Vikings offered us an opportunity to be their official kettle corn.  We started selling at all of the Viking home games in the fall of 2002.  People would ask where they could find our kettle corn in the off-season, so in 2004, we decided it was time to take the business indoors and began manufacturing.

Read the entire article

Filed Under: Featured, News, News and events