Kernel Season's Popcorn Seasoning

Kernel Season's is the leading brand of popcorn seasoning in the United States, originating from a dorm room experiment at the University of Michigan in 1999. Founded by Brian Taylor, the brand initially gained traction by distributing free samples in movie theaters before expanding into major retail chains across the country.

Over the years, the brand has undergone several ownership changes as it scaled. In 2018, it was acquired by the private equity firm Highlander Partners from VMG Partners and its founder. In May 2020, the brand was sold to Sauer Brands Inc., a long-standing food company known for Duke's Mayonnaise, which was then a portfolio company of Falfurrias Capital Partners.

As of February 2025, Sauer Brands Inc., including the Kernel Season's brand, was acquired by the global private equity firm Advent International. Under this new ownership, the brand continues to operate as part of a diverse portfolio of condiments and seasonings, with products primarily manufactured in the United States across Sauer Brands' various facilities in Virginia, South Carolina, Kansas, and California.