ConAgra buys Lincoln Snacks, Screaming Yellow legacy

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By RICHARD PIERSOL/Lincoln Journal Star

Owners come and go, but the  place where Screaming Yellow Zonkers came from lives on, even if the Zonkers don’t.   

 ConAgra Foods, Inc. announced that it has acquired Lincoln Snacks, a privately-held popcorn snacks manufacturer that makes Poppycock, Fiddle Faddle and various retailers’ private label products.

Terms were not announced.

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Popcorn snacks are produced at Lincoln Snacks Co., bought on Thursday by ConAgra. (Journal Star/File)

Popcorn snacks are produced at Lincoln Snacks Co., bought on Thursday by ConAgra. (Journal Star/File)

The company employs 114 people at a factory at 5020 S. 19th St.  

After restructuring and divesting a number of businesses in recent years, including the Cook’s Ham operation in Lincoln, ConAgra Foods’ has been returning to the marketplace to buy companies it says will contribute to sustainable, profitable growth.

Lincoln Snacks, owned by Ubiquity Brands of Chicago since 2004, generates approximately $45 million in annual sales, ConAgra said.   Those products are available at grocers, large retailers and specialty food Web sites across the U.S. and internationally.

The company intends to continue producing Poppycock, Fiddle Faddle and private brands,  said ConAgra spokeswoman Annie Haas. 

Screaming Yellow Zonkers were among the legendary snacks produced at the Lincoln plant, which opened in the late 1960s under previous ownership.  

The brand has been discontinued, according to online retailer  Hometown Favorites.  

Haas confirmed it, and said there were no plans to revive the Screamers, but offered hope:      “...at the moment we are assessing future plans for all of the brands we have acquired, including Screaming Yellow Zonkers.”

Lincoln Snacks was known at one time for wacky promotions.  

Its Web site still includes this disclaimer:  “*The introduction of Screaming Yellow Zonkers and the subsequent break up of the Beatles is purely coincidental.”

ConAgra was all business on Thursday:  “This acquisition positions ConAgra Foods to further meet consumer demand for snacks,” said Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods. “We plan to grow Poppycock and Fiddle Faddle through our marketing expertise and operating infrastructure, and we’re pleased to welcome the brands into the ConAgra Foods portfolio.”

ConAgra Foods manufactures and markets several other national snacks brands, including Orville Redenbacher’s and ACT II popcorn, Crunch ’n Munch, DAVID seeds and Slim Jim meat snacks.

Reach Richard Piersol at 473-7241 or at dpiersol@journalstar.com