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LesserEvil
American company producing snack foods From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
The company promotes its products as a healthy alternative; in 2023 it was sued by a consumer for misrepresentation.
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History
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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]
In April 2025, Hershey signed an agreement to acquire LesserEvil.[16]
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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.[17][18][19]
Recognition
In 2022 Prevention named their Sun Popper Sour Cream and Onion product as their Best Protein Puff[20] and Good Housekeeping named them their Best Vegan Puffs.[21] In 2023, Self name the company's organic popcorn the best bagged popcorn.[22] In 2024, the company's Homer’s Blend Organic Popcorn won the best popcorn award in Good Housekeeping’s Best Snack Awards.[23]
Controversies
In 2023, LesserEvil was sued for misrepresenting its snacks as "healthier" than others.[24]
In 2025, Edward Coristine, the son of LesserEvil CEO Charles Coristine (and grandson of executed KGB officer Valery Martynov[25]), began working with Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). [26] LesserEvil has distanced themselves from Edward Coristine following controversy over his activities at DOGE and in the private sector.[27]
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References
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