What's popping?

VICKERY — Dave Tischler considers himself lucky to have found his dream job. Along with his wife, Beth, he runs Nana and Papa's Kettle Corn. The business produces and sells a specialized version of popcorn at myriad locations in northern Ohio and southern Michigan. Kettle corn is cooked in large metal pans called kettles. It is a popped corn treat that combines sweet and salty flavors. In 2019, Dave worked for the Sandusky County probation department. He was asked if he'd be interested in a part-time driver position with Nana and Papa's. He said yes and began delivering kettle corn. "I had no idea kettle corn was so big," he said. "I really started liking it," Dave said regarding his driving job. Then, a few months into his new part-time career, he caught wind that the owner of the business was looking to sell. "Immediately, the thought that went in the back of my mind was, 'Oh gosh, we're going to get a new owner and then he's going to want his own drivers and he's going to get rid of me.'" Dave had another idea, though; he wanted to be the one to buy the business. He discussed it with Beth and then they made the move. "We bought a business right before a presidential election in the middle of a pandemic," Beth said. The Tischlers took over Nana and Papa's in Oct. 2020. Small changes One of the first things the new owners did was to move the operation's headquarters. The previous owner operated out of Castalia. Dave moved the business to Vickery, specifically the old Townsend School on Pickle Street (C.R. 294). Aside from moving the business to Vickery, where Beth is from, everything else stayed the same. The name remained unchanged. "We've done nothing with the recipes," Dave said, noting that they kept the original style of kettle corn. Beth, who also serves as the elected Sandusky County prosecutor, paid tribute to the original owners, Bob and Judy Massey of Clyde. "He started it (and) he perfected his recipe," Beth said. Massey commissioned several custom pieces of equipment for the business, such as the funnel device used to fill bags. In fact, that piece of equipment is still housed in the trailer the company takes to fairs and markets. It's such a unique piece of equipment that the item is not permanently in the trailer. It is taken out and used in the commercial kitchen facility maintained by the business in Vickery. While the product is successful, Dave noted challenges to expansion. Some of the company's workers are family members and combined with non-related workers, most are part-time and not interested in working more. "If you grow too much and need to get new help, you might screw something up," Beth said. Customers ask for different varieties such as cheese corn and caramel corn. The only variant from the original that the company sells features the Madison Street original rub from Madison Street Tavern in Tiffin. "That's good stuff," Dave said, adding that variety is sold in some of the company's locations. Busy business The Tischlers operate the commercial kitchen four days a week, Monday through Thursday. They do not often go to locations with their trailer, but summer can be a busy time for the company. They contract with Seneca County to provide their product to flea markets that occur once per month between April and October. Those setups last two days each. The only other event the company pulls the trailer out for is the Sandusky County Fair. The weeklong fair can be physically draining on personnel. In addition to Dave and Beth, the couple's children, Aiden and Kayla, also help out. Numerous other family members also help with the company. Dave said they've been asked to peddle their kettle corn at other events but he said it's tough due to the demands of the retail side of the business. Popping success Kettle corn is a relatively simple product. Popcorn is cooked in oil and sugar then tumbled in a special machine to remove excess oil. It is then salted and bagged. Dave said they try to source local ingredients; however, that can be a challenge. Currently, the corn is sourced from Pennsylvania and the oil comes from Livonia, Michigan. The Tischlers said they had not been affected tremendously buy the rampant inflation in recent years. Dave noted the oil they use has risen but Beth said the price is stabilizing. "We've never been at a point where we were overwhelmed by it," Dave said. The company has only raised prices once in the four years the Tischlers have owned it. Small bags increased 25 cents and large bags increased 50 cents, Beth said. Dave estimated the company stocks its product in more than 75 stores and markets. He said the product is sold throughout Ohio, including Lorain, Lucas, Erie, Ottawa, Seneca, Sandusky and Hancock counties, among others. Nana and Papa's Kettle Corn is also sold in Temperance, Michigan. Beth estimated the company produces north of $250,000 in annual revenue.