LesserEvil

Last updated
LesserEvil, LLC
Company type Private
Industry Food
Founded2004;21 years ago (2004)
FounderMichael A. Sands
Headquarters
Danbury, Connecticut
,
U.S.
Area served
North America
Key people
Charles Coristine, CEO
Products Snack foods, organic foods
Revenueapproaching $100M in 2023 [1]
Number of employees
250 [1]
Website www.lesserevil.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

LesserEvil is an American snack company located in Danbury, Connecticut founded in 2004. The company makes a variety of packaged snack products including prepopped popcorn and extruded snacks.

Contents

The company promotes its products as a healthy alternative; in 2023 it was sued by a consumer for misrepresentation.

History

LesserEvil logo 2013-2019 LesserEvil company logo 2013-2019.png
LesserEvil logo 2013-2019
LesserEvil's packaging in 2014 LesserEvil Product Family.JPG
LesserEvil's packaging in 2014

LesserEvil was founded in 2004 by Michael A. Sands, [2] Gene Hackman, and Jim Cramer in Tuckahoe, New York. [3]

Their initial product offering was a kettlecorn [3] and expanded into multiple varieties. [4] In 2006 they introduced a second line, Krinkle Sticks, [5] and later lines of extruded curls and puffs intended to compete in the cheese puff category. [6] [7] [8] [1]

In 2011 Charles Coristine, a former bond trader, [9] acquired LesserEvil [1] and opened its Danbury factory the following year. [10] At this point, the company's headquarters was still located in Wilton, Connecticut, but operations moved to Commerce Park in Danbury by 2013. [11] The factory is certified organic. [12]

LesserEvil underwent a rebrand in 2019, which emphasized "mindful" snacking, reiterated by the guru mascots featured on the packaging. [13]

In April 2022, the company acquired energy bar maker R.E.D.D. Bar. [14] [1] The following year, LesserEvil sold a “significant minority” stake of the business to Aria Growth Partners, with the intention to further develop manufacturing and retail distribution. [15]

According to the Hartford Business Journal , the company was expected to have close to $100M in revenues in 2023 and was one of the largest producers of organic snacks in the US. [1]

Ingredients

Carla Lalli Music, writing for Bon Appetit, dietician Wan Na Chun, speaking with Eat This, Not That , and dietician Mascha Davis speaking with Prevention noted the short list of ingredients for multiple popcorn products as a positive. [16] [17] [18]

Recognition

In 2022 Prevention named their Sun Popper Sour Cream and Onion product as their Best Protein Puff [19] and Good Housekeeping named them their Best Vegan Puffs. [20] In 2023, Self name the company's organic popcorn the best bagged popcorn. [21] In 2024, the company's Homer’s Blend Organic Popcorn won the best popcorn award in Good Housekeeping’s Best Snack Awards. [22]

Controversies

In 2023, LesserEvil was sued for misrepresenting its snacks as "healthier" than others. [23]

In 2025, Edward Coristine, the son of LesserEvil CEO Charles Coristine (and grandson of executed KGB officer Valery Martynov [24] ), began working with Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). [25] LesserEvil has distanced themselves from Edward Coristine following controversy over his activities at DOGE and in the private sector. [26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Larson, Andrew (June 26, 2023). "Nearing $100M in annual revenues, CT's LesserEvil expands organic snack foods line, readies new in-state manufacturing plant". Hartford Business Journal. New England Business Media . Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ Moran Alterio, Julie (August 13, 2008). "Snack company markets to presidential race". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Lee, Richard (March 8, 2012). "Judges like what they savor in LesserEvil". The Stamford Advocate. Hearst. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Briskin, Lizzy. "I'm a chef. I tried 3 popular types of bagged popcorn to see which is the best". Business Insider . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  5. ↑ "The LesserEvil History". LesserEvil.com. LesserEvil Brand Snack Co. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-08-12. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Matthews, Melissa (2019-09-04). "These Egg White Curls Are Basically Paleo Cheetos". Men's Health . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  7. ↑ Bricker, Tierney (2021-03-22). "15 Healthy and Satisfying Snacks for Spring". E! Online . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  8. ↑ Watrous, Monica (29 August 2021). "New sustainable snacks debut from LesserEvil Healthy Brands | 2021-09-29 | Baking Business". Baking Business . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  9. ↑ Dube, Rob (September 2, 2019). "Searching for a Smarter Snack: How This Mindful Leader Created A LesserEvil". Forbes. Advantage Media. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  10. ↑ Smith, Alissa (May 30, 2013). "LesserEvil Snacks Opens A New Factory In Danbury". Daily Voice. Cantata Media LLC. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  11. ↑ David W. St. Hilaire (2013). "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013". City of Danbury Department of Finance. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ Jones, Marcy (2023-03-15). "'Lesser Evil' taking over the world with healthy snacks". WFSB . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  13. ↑ Cabrey, Erin (July 13, 2020). "LesserEvil Moves Into New Categories, Expands Distribution". Nosh . NevNET. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ↑ Nunes, Keith (April 13, 2022). "LesserEvil enters bar category with acquisition of R.E.D.D. Bar". Food Business News. Sosland Publishing. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ Harvey, Simon (2023-09-21). "LesserEvil snack maker gets capital injection from Aria Growth Partners". Just Food . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  16. ↑ Music, Carla Lalli (2020-04-28). "I Love Everything About This Popcorn (Except the Name)". Bon Appétit . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  17. ↑ Kunik, Kelsey (2024-01-16). "10 Best & Worst Bagged Popcorns, According to Dietitians". Eat This Not That . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  18. ↑ Taylor, Marygrace; Haase, Madeleine (2023-10-06). "These Healthy Snacks Ideas Are Nutritious and Taste Great". Prevention . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  19. ↑ Weg, Arielle (2022-04-08). "The 40+ Newest Healthy Packaged Foods Our Test Kitchen Editors Love". Prevention . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  20. ↑ Sasson, Stephanie (2022-06-28). "The 2022 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards". Good Housekeeping . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  21. ↑ Madaus, Sarah (2023-02-24). "The Best Chips, Crackers, Bars, Pretzels, and Popcorn for When You're Feeling Snacky". Self . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  22. ↑ Sassos, Stephanie; Yung, Alyssa (2024-04-02). "Our Biggest and Best Snack Awards Are Here". Good Housekeeping . Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  23. ↑ Steinberg, Julie (March 2, 2023). "LesserEvil Sued for 'Healthier' Claim on Allegedly Fatty Snacks". Bloomberg Law . Bloomberg Industry Group Inc. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Elon Musk's protege 'Big Balls' is grandson of executed KGB agent, report says". The Independent. 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  25. ↑ MacDiarmid, Zoe (2025-02-04). "Northeastern student identified as engineer for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency". The Huntington News. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  26. ↑ Feiner, Lauren. "Popcorn brand distances itself from DOGE employee 'Big Balls' after backlash". theverge.com. The Verge. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
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