Dee’s Gourmet Popcorn (Paranaque City)

Dee's Gourmet Popcorn

The commissary

Popcorn is a must-have snack for Filipinos whenever they go on a typical movie date, with choices only ranging from salted to cheese-flavored. Entrepreneur Ms. Lydia Duquesa “Deedee” Ledonio, the owner and brains behind Dee’s Gourmet Popcorn, added more reasons to eat popcorn aside from the usual movie theater versions.  

With creativity and innovation, Deedee used imported (from the U.S.A.) mushroom popcorn kernels (the usual here is the butterfly popcorn), with their beautifully large ball-like shape (best suited for adding coatings), and added more unique flavors.  These, plus their eye-catching, 60-gm. zip lock packaging (imported from Taiwan), caught Manila by storm.  Today, they are the best handmade baked popcorn in town.  

Ms. Deedee Ledonio-Mallari

Baking oven

Popcorn popper

Deedee, an entrepreneur who owns a cargo company (she is president of Columbia Transport, Inc. - Coltrans Cargo Philippines) and spa destinations, dreams big and always goes out of her way to fulfill a dream.  Although it was her first venture into food manufacturing, she hired food technologists and consulted friends from the food industry to develop a set of flavors that would be best for a popcorn brand. She especially wanted a brand that carries her favorite rendition of popcorn, specifically that with a chocolate coating.  And she did it. Today, Dee’s Gourmet Popcorn is the only baked popcorn with a line of chocolate-coated pieces.

Bags of popped but still unflavored corn

On July 8, 2011, after a year of rigorous research plus trial and error, Deedee launched her first branch.  

To introduce her new creation, she also joined food bazaars and other trade events  such as the ABS-CBN MYX Trade Event, World Food Expo (WOFEX) Cebu (April 24-26, 2014, SM Cebu Trade Hall), the 12th Philippine Food Expo (May 16-18, 2014, World Trade Center), WOFEX Baguio (May 22-24, 2014, Baguio Country Club), WOFEX Davao (June 26-28, 2014, SMX Davao), WOFEX Manila (August 6-9, 2014, World Trade Center and SMX) and the Food and Drinks Asia (September 4-7, 2014, World Trade Center).  

Her experience and dedication thus helped fulfill what used to be a simple dream into reality.

Popcorn is measured (60 gms.) prior to packing

Packaging and labelling

Dee’s popcorn are popped using palm olein oil that has no trans fat, making it an alternative healthy snack option.  They are then perfectly baked before being seasoned with an assortment of flavors. 

They come in different flavors, all priced between PhP50-80.   Regular flavors are Buttery Caramel, Cheesy Cheese, Santa Fe Mexican Blend, Salted Caramel and Choco Caramel while their premium flavors are Caramel with Dark and White Chocolate Drizzle, Coffee Almond Crunch, Milky Chocolate, Rocky Road, Chocolate Drizzle with Shaved Coconuts and Caramel with Pili Nuts.  

Packed and ready for delivery

The author with Ms. Deedee

In Metro Manila, Dee’s delicious baked popcorn is now available in SM Supermarkets, SM Save More, 38 Robinsons Supermarkets (Galleria, Magnolia, Eastwood, Ermita, etc.), 12 major Puregold Lifestyle supermarkets (QI, Alabang, Mindanao Ave, Taguig, Southpark, Quezon Ave, Shaw, Fairview Ave, Pioneer Ave, Zapote, BF Homes, CE Kalayaan), 5 Metro Gaisano Supermarkets (Market Market, Alabang, Lucky Chinatown, etc.), 2 Landmark Supermarkets (Trinoma and Glorietta), Cash n’ Carry Supermarket in Makati, 80 Finds Convenient Stores, Malcolm’s Deli (Fort, Bonifacio Global City), Epicurious, all Gourdo's gourmet stores and some Ralph's Wines and Spirits outlets. 

They are also available in 19 CHAMS convenient stores in Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental); Budget Mart and Crafts of Boracay in Boracay; and Alturas Supermarkets in Cebu (3 outlets) and Bohol (2 outlets).

Dee’s Gourmet Popcorn: Citimotors Bldg., Sampaguita Ave., Brgy. Marcelo Green, United Parañaque Subd. 4, Parañaque City. Tel: 852-7580. E-mail: deesgourmet@gmail.com. Website: www.deespopcorn.com.