Odell's is a supplier of

popcorn Popcorn (also called popped corn, popcorns or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated; the same names also refer to the foodstuff produced by the expansion. A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the se ...

topping and popping products to the concession industry in the Americas. The company's concession product line includes a Real

butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condiment ...

topping, a

margarine Margarine (, also , ) is a spread used for flavoring, baking, and cooking. It is most often used as a substitute for butter. Although originally made from animal fats, most margarine consumed today is made from vegetable oil. The spread was orig ...

topping and a variety of popping oils. The company's non-concession product line includes a variety of butters that extends beyond concession products to include a product line called Chef's Butter sold to restaurants and retailers.

History

The company was started by Virgil Odell, who owned several theaters in Idaho in the 1960s. At the time, theaters were using creamery butter, or stick butter as we know it today, to put on top of popcorn. The problem with creamery butter is that it needs to be

refrigerated The term refrigeration refers to the process of removing heat from an enclosed space or substance for the purpose of lowering the temperature.International Dictionary of Refrigeration, http://dictionary.iifiir.org/search.phpASHRAE Terminology, ht ...

and when melted it separates into water, milk solids and butterfat so it had to be constantly stirred before being put on the popcorn. Virgil discovered a process used by the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

to remove water and milk solids from butter. This process enabled butter to be shipped overseas without refrigeration or special handling. This process led to the introduction of Odell's Anhydrous Butterfat for the use on theater popcorn, it was an immediate success with theatres. On January 31, 1961, Odell Concession Specialty Co., Inc., was formed. On October 27, 1979, Virgil Odell died and Arthur R. Anderson assumed the duties of the president with 51% ownership in Odell Concession Specialty Co., Inc. The other 49% was split between three other individuals. At the time, Odell Concession Specialty Co., Inc., consisted of five theatres and what is commonly referred to as ‘the Butter Company’. Within five years of Virgil's death, the company was split up and the three share holders chose to own and operate the theatres. Art Anderson became sole proprietor of what is now called Odell's, ‘the Butter Company.’ In 2001, Art Anderson sold Odell's to his son Arthur M. Anderson and his wife Vikki B. Anderson.

Products

*Anhydrous Butterfat *Supur Kist Two *Classic Blend Popping Oil *Premium Canola Popping Oil *Fluffy Pop – Coconut Popping Oil *Golden Sunflower Popping Oil *Chef's Butter

References

External links

* {{official, http://www.popntop.com Food manufacturers of the United States Margarine brands Privately held companies based in Nevada Companies based in Reno, Nevada Caldwell, Idaho