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Former Executive Leaves iFood, Invests in PopCorn Gourmet Franchises, and Plans to Build Own Network in Franchising.
With a forecast to reach R$ 29 million in revenue by 2025, PopCorn Gourmet is establishing itself as one of the gourmet popcorn chains in expansion in Brazil.
This movement has attracted strategically minded investors, such as Mário Anderson Miranda, 45 years old, former executive of iFood, who decided to enter franchising by acquiring two franchises of the brand in São Paulo.
The units were inaugurated in the beginning of the second semester of 2025 and operate in kiosk format in shopping centers.
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The entrepreneur’s expectation was that, by the end of the year, the two stores combined would reach at least R$ 100 thousand in revenue, driven by the high Christmas season.
PopCorn Gourmet Attracts Professionals Leaving the Corporate World
Miranda’s case reflects a growing trend in franchising: the entry of experienced executives seeking autonomy and purpose outside large companies.
In the case of PopCorn Gourmet, the lean operating model and the product with its own identity were decisive factors for the decision.
Before venturing out, Miranda built a career of about seven years at iFood, where he worked as a customer experience manager and later as a social impact and diversity manager.
Even in a strategic position, he had been sketching out a professional transition plan.
Entrepreneurship Was Already Part of the Strategy
About three years ago, Miranda founded a social impact consultancy, focused on racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.
During this time, he balanced his work at iFood with developing his own business until he realized he needed to reorganize his professional routine.
The decision to leave the corporate career was matured throughout 2025, when the entrepreneur began looking for ways to dedicate more time to the consultancy while also investing in a physical business with direct public contact.
The decisive moment came after a reunion with the brand.
“I got to know PopCorn Gourmet three years ago, and in November of last year, I reconnected with chef Elaine Moura [founder of PopCorn Gourmet] at an event for black leaders. I had already fallen in love with the product, and at that moment, I decided that I wanted to have a franchise of the brand,” he states.
According to Miranda, the network’s positioning, which encourages the participation of women, black people, and LGBTIA+, also weighed in on his choice.
Two Franchises, One Growth Project
In April 2025, Miranda officially left iFood and began negotiations with the franchisor.
During the process, he received an offer to take over two franchise transfers, which required a careful analysis of the investment.
“I come from the favela, I grew up in various contexts of scarcity, so everything for me tastes like conquest. I reflected on the financial backing that would be necessary and decided to invest in the two stores,” he reports.
The investment was made with personal funds, drawn from savings combined with part of the severance from his previous job.
Where Are the PopCorn Gourmet Units Located?
The franchises are located in the Frei Caneca and Pátio Higienópolis shopping malls in São Paulo (SP).
Both operate as kiosks, the predominant format of the network, and feature foodbikes for event service.
For new investors, the initial investment in a PopCorn Gourmet kiosk starts at R$ 109 thousand, with an estimated return period of 6 to 12 months.
Operational Experience as Part of the Strategy
Even with management experience, Miranda chose to get directly involved in the operation of the stores.
Currently, he is involved in everything from customer service to logistics analysis, sales, and operational efficiency.
“I am doing the operational experience because it is important for me to design improvements,” he explains.
According to him, this direct contact is essential for structuring future growth with more security.
The long-term goal is clear: to reach eight franchises in five years, with an average growth of 1.5 units per year.
The planning is already underway and should start being executed in the second half of the year.
“I am working on this planning in a very realistic way, organizing myself from now on to make it happen starting in the second half of the year. I want to build my own ‘business empire’ as a multi-franchisee,” he states.
Results and Representativity in Entrepreneurship
For 2025, the projection was R$ 50 thousand in revenue per unit, with a boost in demand during the Christmas period.
More than the numbers, Miranda emphasizes the symbolic impact of his own journey.
“As a black and gay man, I am happy to represent that diversity can reach everywhere we want. Entrepreneurship is not just for a select group of cis, white, and straight men, and it is important for people to keep this in mind to understand that it is possible to occupy these spaces,” he concludes.
Currently, PopCorn Gourmet operates 28 stores and has three others in the implementation phase, spread across 11 states.
The kiosk format in shopping centers remains the main growth driver for the network, which continues to attract strategically minded entrepreneurs with a long-term vision.
With information from Pequenas Empresas & Grandes Negócios.
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