Positioned for Success

As drive-in theaters grew in the 50s, so did the opportunities for Gold Medal. The presence of Sno-Kones^® at nearly all drive-in concession stands improved the company’s image.

Gold Medal was also growing its dealer network, with more than 35 distributors

In 1951, the first machine-made cotton candy paper cone was patented, making anyone in the cotton candy business a customer of Gold Medal.

With continued growth in mind, the company began renting additional space in the Third Street facility, plus an additional floor in the Heskamp Building.

The Pop-A-Lot was re-engineered, and new introductions included the Whiz Bang Popcorn Machine, the Sno Matic Ice Shaver, and the cast-aluminum Whirlwind Cotton Candy Machine.

It didn't take long before the company set its sights on a larger location and moved to a 92,000-square-foot facility on Freeman Avenue in 1959. The company was well positioned for success with its people, products, and production capabilities.

Advancing Toward the Future

It was 1960 when Dave Evans retired and the business continued to flourish under the leadership of his sons, David Bruce and J.C.

Abiding by the demands of the era, Gold Medal entered coin vending machine production. Coin-operated soap, coffee, candy, and other types of vending machines proved to be an unlikely success story, with thousands of machines sold.

The company continued to invest in its dealer network by beginning the annual tradition of the Gold Medal Distributors' Conference, which still takes place today.

Slush drinks became a blossoming trend for the company.

Product line expansions continued, particularly in the popcorn category. New innovations came for both smaller, inexpensive models and those that were capable of more heavy-duty production.

Gold Medal was instrumental in establishing the signature antique design with filigree that became an iconic emblem for classic popcorn style.

Leading the Way

The 1970s ushered in an era of growth and development for Gold Medal's flavor department. The need for expansion became apparent and the company began leasing additional space.

International growth was sparked with the addition of distributors in Sweden, Germany, and Denmark.

Further investments in marketing led to the company's first full-color catalog in 1972.

Popcorn and cotton candy lines continued to grow with the addition of the Antique Pinto Pop and the Econo Floss. The vending machines that were popular in the 1960s began to fade and Gold Medal began to focus its efforts even more directly on concession equipment and supplies.

As the dealer network continued to grow, Gold Medal opened its first two branch locations: Chicago in 1975 and Pittsburgh in 1979.

Establishing its position as the industry leader, Gold Medal started to offer concession seminar events/open houses, where customers could see live demonstrations and learn about all the product lines.

Sparking Gourmet Popcorn Growth with Glaze Pop^®

Throughout these years, Bruce and J.C.'s children began to work at Gold Medal.

Finding success with its branch locations, Gold Medal added new locations in Orlando and North Carolina.

Gourmet popcorn began to take off and Gold Medal was there to lead the way. Bruce Evans, Gold Medal's President and flavor chemist, invented Glaze Pop^®, a unique product that allowed a candy-coated flavoring to be added straight into the kettle.

The company also built up a new product line for bakers, making donuts, Belgian waffles, and waffle cones for ice cream shops.

Popcorn, cotton candy, and Sno-Kones^® continued to do well. And the company ramped up its production capacity when it expanded its headquarters to a facility on Dalton Avenue, while the first-class machine shop and sheet metal shop on Freeman enhanced its manufacturing capabilities. The company set its sights on achieving record sales.

An Inspiring Family Business

In a sad and tragic turn of events in 1991, Bruce Evans passed away suddenly. Sales Vice President, Dan Kroeger was then appointed to fulfill the role of President, under the guidance and supervision of J.C. Evans as Chairman.

The Evans family (Dave Evans, Nancy Evans, Sally Evans Lloyd, John Evans, and Doug Evans) remained in active roles and ownership of the company. Together, they would lead Gold Medal into a time period of engineering excellence.

Technological advancements brought the “Big Eye” electronic heat control poppers, plus the convenience of Flexipop^®, and electronic versions of the baker line.

Indianapolis, New Orleans, and Tennessee joined the line-up of branch locations, increasing the company's service abilities.

In 1997, Gold Medal marked a significant accomplishment by building its world headquarters, a 326,000-square-foot facility in Evendale, Ohio. From here, product innovations and improvements would continue.

New Events & Opportunities

With a structured approach to product development, Gold Medal introduced the PopClean^® line, allowing the company to better serve the needs of large-venue customers.

Other innovations included: the new energy-efficient Super Pop Maxx kettle, EcoSelect^™ popcorn bags, and the Deluxe Shav-A-Doo.

Gold Medal's National Caramel Corn Day was launched as an annual event to educate operators about the opportunities, equipment, and profit potential of gourmet popcorn.

Further expansion of the branches allowed Gold Medal to enter the following markets: Columbus, OH; Jacksonville, FL; and Tampa, FL.

With expanding reach and increased sales potential, the company added on 80,000 square feet to its headquarters on Medallion Drive.

The family tradition continued as Bruce and J.C.'s grandchildren started to enter the business, including Megan Evans, Kayla Evans, and Rachel Gibson.

Passing the Torch

Bolstered by a mix of creativity and strategy, Gold Medal invested into its established product lines with fresh, new ideas. Funnel cakes found new life with Funnel Fingers^™; Saratoga Swirls^® gave a twist to potatoes, and the polar bear Polar Pete became the fun and friendly face for Sno-Kones^®.

The company introduced the only UL and UL Sanitation Listed Floss Machines on the market.

Gourmet popcorn emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets and Gold Medal rose to the occasion with state-of-the-art equipment offerings and a collection of flavor options.

New branch locations were added to serve: Central Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, and Minneapolis.

Growth at the headquarters also continued, resulting in multiple expansions, with facilities now totaling almost 500,000 square feet.

Dan Kroeger retired from his position as President, yet remains an active leader in the role of CEO/Chairman.

Gold Medal entered a new era of growth and development as Adam Browning assumed the position of President in 2017. Now, the third generation of the Evans family leads the company, with the fourth generation working alongside as well.

The company's performance continues to be impressive, nearly doubling in sales in the past 10 years. Gold Medal currently has a strong network of over 300 dealers, employs more than 350 people at 16 locations, and remains a key influencer in shaping the future of the industry.

An Era of Ingenuity

As a third-generation owner, Dave Evans assumed the role of Chairman of the Board. With a strong legacy of leadership, he will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping Gold Medal's continued success. Under his guidance, the company remains committed to innovation and excellence in the concession industry.

One of the most significant advancements in recent years has been the integration of technology into product development. Gold Medal introduced touch screen controls as an option for the PopClean® Elite Series Poppers, enhancing the operator experience with customizable settings and recipes. This innovation has streamlined employee training and improved ease of operation. The launch of touch screen technology marks the beginning of a new era, setting the stage for future developments across multiple product categories.

Additionally, Gold Medal redefined the popcorn experience with a line of popcorn vending machines known as the Ready Series. These self-serve popcorn dispensers transform the way popcorn is served. No more scooping, popcorn can be dispensed with just the push of a button. The series contains four models: the 8-oz ReadyPop^® Jr., 16-oz ReadyPop^®, and the ReadyServe^® One and ReadyServe^® cabinets. Select options may also include cashless payment systems and custom graphics packages. Venues such as stadiums, convenience stores, and movie theaters appreciate the labor savings and user-friendliness it offers consumers.

Gourmet popcorn continues to be a thriving market. Gold Medal's sweet shop setup has emerged as the prime way to equip grocery stores to make and sell fresh gourmet popcorn, fudge, cotton candy, caramel and candy apples, and other traditional concession food favorites.

Another noteworthy initiative was Gold Medal's investment in building a 42,000 square-foot facility to produce ready-to-eat popcorn. This state-of-the-art popcorn manufacturing site is outfitted with Gold Medal poppers, cooker mixers, and tumblers. It allows Gold Medal to make our signature gourmet popcorn recipes available as prepackaged varieties. Tens of thousands of pounds of popcorn are produced per shift including caramel corn, cheese corn, kettle corn, and butter popcorn.

Food safety and operational excellence remain top priority for Gold Medal. Earning SQF Certification is considered the highest possible global food safety standard. It demonstrates our commitment to quality across all policies and procedures.