What began as a family obsession around the kitchen table for Maya Forrest and her two daughters has turned into Glasgow’s first ever gourmet popcorn shop.
Opened last month on Great Western Road, POP is putting a gourmet spin on one of the world’s most-loved snacks.
Popcorn is popped fresh in small batches using specialist machinery imported from America, then flavoured, coated, hand-drizzled and finished in store.
The menu moves far beyond the cinema classic, with rich caramel corn and indulgent chocolate creations sitting alongside mature cheddar, truffle and protein popcorn.
There’s a changing line-up of sweet, savoury and more unexpected combinations.
© Martin Shields
‘I’ve always loved popcorn, but I certainly never imagined I’d end up making it by the kilo every day,’ Maya said.
‘I’d noticed that we didn’t really have a dedicated popcorn shop in Scotland, and I hadn’t seen anywhere in the UK doing topped popcorn in quite the way I had in mind.
‘I wanted to create something that felt fun and a little bit different, but that would appeal to everyone.
‘We have the classic sweet and salted flavours, but also more indulgent caramel flavours, savoury options, nuts and toppings, so there’s genuinely something for all tastes.
‘We offer six flavours each day and rotate them regularly. There will always be favourites like sweet and salted, alongside more unusual or seasonal flavours and specials.
‘One of the nicest parts of having our own shop is being able to experiment.
© Martin Shields
‘We can try something new, see the reaction from customers and keep evolving what we offer. I love that it doesn’t have to be static.’
At the heart of the new opening is a family story.
The idea started at home, where Maya and her daughters spent time experimenting with different popcorn flavours together.
What began as a family favourite gradually evolved into a business idea, with Maya spotting a gap in Glasgow for a shop dedicated to gourmet popcorn.
‘POP really started at home with me and my girls,’ Maya said.
‘We absolutely love popcorn and are always experimenting with different flavours and making our own creations together.
‘It became a bit of a family obsession and, over time, I started thinking there was a real opportunity to do something with it.
‘I’d seen how gourmet popcorn had developed elsewhere, particularly in London and America, but there really wasn’t anything like it in Glasgow.
© Martin Shields
‘I wanted to take something everyone knows and loves and make it feel really special, using great ingredients, making it fresh every day and having fun with flavours people might not normally associate with popcorn.
‘It was important to me that we did it properly, so we’ve brought specialist machinery over from America and we’ll be popping fresh batches throughout the day, then flavouring, drizzling and finishing everything here in the shop.’
It’s very much a family business and Maya’s girls have been part of it from the beginning.
‘My kids have been brilliant taste testers from the very beginning, although they’re probably slightly biased,’ she said.
‘When I first started talking about the idea, they were really enthusiastic about it and gave me the confidence that it was something families and younger customers would genuinely get excited about.
‘They still take their tasting responsibilities very seriously whenever we’re trying something new.’
Maya hopes POP will become somewhere people love coming to, whether that’s with the kids after school, for a matcha or coffee with a friend, or to pick up a beautiful box of popcorn to take home.
© Martin Shields
Alongside its signature popcorn, POP will serve Italian-style soft serve, speciality matcha and coffee, creating a new neighbourhood stop for everything from an after-school treat or afternoon matcha to a freshly popped box to take home.
‘The ice cream felt like a really natural addition,’ Maya said.
‘We work with The Capocci Man and use a fresh dairy mix, so it’s a proper treat in its own right.
‘We serve cones and sundaes, but I particularly love it paired with the popcorn, the combination is delicious and gives people the chance to create something a little more indulgent.
‘The whole idea behind POP is really about simple treats done well and making the experience fun.’
A keen home baker, Maya also plans to introduce some of her own recipes to the counter as POP develops, including homemade scones and other baked treats, while gifting and beautifully packaged popcorn collections are already part of the family’s longer-term plans for the business.
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