About Jody's
Jody and her husband, Alan, always enjoyed visiting different resort areas and feasting on fresh caramel corn. In fact, when they lived in Chicago, a great date included a trip to a caramel corn store and a long walk munching on the delicacy.
Alan, who is very creative, incorporated caramel corn into his marriage proposal to Jody. He had her engagement ring sealed inside a prize envelope placed in a Cracker-Jack® box so that Jody could find it. To this day, over 33 years later, Alan still will not divulge the secret of how he got the ring into the box!
When Jody and Alan moved to Virginia Beach, they couldn’t believe that the resort lacked fresh caramel corn. Every summer, Jody knew that visitors to Virginia Beach were missing out!
In 2005 Virginia Beach opened a new luxury Hilton oceanfront hotel with the 31 Ocean Shops across the street. The shops contain unique boutique stores. Alan and Jody decided to bring caramel corn to Virginia Beach at the 31 Ocean Shops. They signed the lease, hired the architect, tried all of the commercial caramel corn recipes, and agreed that they did not have a caramel corn recipe that was good enough!
Alan and Jody installed a commercial popper and caramelizer in their garage. Alan, a physician and scientist, set up a laboratory (in the garage!) and began working to develop a sweet, crunchy, delicious caramel corn. "Amazing or Bust" was his motto. Alan made batch after batch, changing small things about each recipe trial, and carefully analyzed each step. After many very late nights and weekend days, on the 53rd recipe try, he achieved perfection – Secret Recipe 53 Caramel Corn!
Similar care has gone into the creation of the other unique popcorn flavors offered at Jody’s – Chocolate Drizzle (caramel corn with white and dark chocolate drizzled on top), Chunky Choco Toffee (caramel corn with chocolate and toffee pieces), Cinnamon Toast (cinnamon flavored corn – great for breakfast), Double Cheddar, Cheesy Ranch, Ragin Cajun and several more! And Dr. Alan isn’t done – he’s still creating new recipes, however, he’s now doing it in our Jody’s test kitchen , not in the garage!
Jody’s opened in September 2005, offering four flavors of popcorn – Secret Recipe 53 Caramel Corn, Cinnamon Toast, White Cheddar, and Cheesy Jalapeño. Today, the store offers over 23 flavors of popcorn!
In May 2006, Dr. Alan decided it was time to add fudge to Jody’s homemade products. Alan again researched the best way to make fudge. Today, Jody’s offers over 15 flavors of fudge, including Chocolate, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Rocky Road, Oreo, Chocolate Walnut, and many more!
Like with our famous popcorn, we get orders to ship our fresh fudge all over the world!
Jody’s has continued to expand its homemade treats, adding "over-the –top" irresistible gourmet caramel apples, chocolate covered apples, chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate dipped rice crispy treats, chocolate dipped pretzels, and a variety of other unique homemade delicacies.
If you have an idea for a treat that you want Jody’s to try, email Jody at goodnews@jodyspopcorn.com and share your suggestions. If Jody ends up using your recipe, we will name the treat after you, and provide you with a lifetime supply of the delicacy!
Jody’s keeps growing! Jody’s expanded the store at 31 Ocean Shops to offer an even greater assortment of gourmet confections, candies, treats, and logo apparel. Recognizing that visitors at the South end of the Virginia Beach oceanfront also crave great popcorn, delicious fudge, awesome caramel and candied apples, Jody’s added a second store on Atlantic Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets.
To support its stores and other specialty grocery stores that carry Jody’s products, Jody’s opened an 8000 square foot Headquarters and Production Facility in Virginia Beach.
2010 got off to a great start— On January 4th, the Orthodox Union gave Kosher certification for all of Jody’s products produced at its Production Facility. If you specifically want Kosher certified products, please look for the OU label on Jody’s products, available at both of Jody’s stores, on-line and at many specialty and grocery stores, including Farm Fresh and Ukrops.
Jody and Dr. Alan believe strongly in community and charitable involvement and encourage their employees to participate in community events. To help charitable, religious or educational groups raise money for their good work, Jody’s developed a fundraising program. Community groups can sell Jody’s popcorn, fudge and treats to raise money for their causes, as well as spread the delicious products throughout the community! For information about fundraising activities, please email
fundraising@jodyspopcorn.com.Not only can you buy the treats in the store and on the web, but the products are carried in gourmet sections of specialty and grocery stores. Jody’s is always looking for more ways to share the delicious popcorn and fudge treats with the public. For more information, email
Debbie@jodyspopcorn.com.In addition, if you have a particular story or idea that you would like to share directly with Jody, please email her at
goodnews@jodyspopcorn.com. Jody looks forward to hearing from you!