Category AI Visibility Report
Popcorn AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈25,522
Est. AI queries / month
9
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 9 buyer topics in Popcorn across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 25,522 AI queries per month.
- Orville Redenbacher's leads the AI shelf with 7.8% of brand mentions, followed by SkinnyPop (7.5%) and LesserEvil (7.1%). The top three hold 22.4% combined — a shelf that has not consolidated yet, leaving a clear window for challengers.
- The highest-demand topic is “microwave popcorn” (top keyword “instant popcorn”, ~27,100 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (30.4% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orville Redenbacher's | 290 | 7.8% |
| 2 | SkinnyPop | 279 | 7.5% |
| 3 | LesserEvil | 264 | 7.1% |
| 4 | Jolly Time | 237 | 6.4% |
| 5 | Angie's Boomchickapop | 206 | 5.6% |
| 6 | Amish Country Popcorn | 198 | 5.3% |
| 7 | CRETORS | 146 | 3.9% |
| 8 | Pop Secret | 135 | 3.6% |
| 9 | Garrett Popcorn | 117 | 3.2% |
| 10 | ACT | 96 | 2.6% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| microwave popcorn | ≈13,275 | instant popcorn | 27,100 |
| gluten free popcorn | ≈12,247 | gluten free popcorn | 18,100 |
| popcorn balls | — | popcorn balls | 22,200 |
| organic popcorn | — | organics popcorn | 33,100 |
| healthy popcorn | — | skinny popcorn | 60,500 |
| gourmet popcorn | — | garrett popcorn | 135,000 |
| caramel popcorn | — | caramel popcorn | 27,100 |
| stovetop popcorn | — | how to cook popcorn on a stove | 22,200 |
| popcorn kernels | — | popcorn for popcorn makers | 74,000 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 148 | 30.4% |
| consumerreports.org | 47 | 9.7% |
| walmart.com | 39 | 8% |
| washingtonpost.com | 25 | 5.1% |
| realsimple.com | 21 | 4.3% |
| seriouseats.com | 18 | 3.7% |
| epicurious.com | 17 | 3.5% |
| sporked.com | 14 | 2.9% |
Related category reports
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for popcorn?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Orville Redenbacher's (7.8%), SkinnyPop (7.5%), LesserEvil (7.1%), Jolly Time (6.4%), Angie's Boomchickapop (5.6%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about popcorn?
GEOly estimates ~25,522 AI queries per month in this category across 9 buyer topics, led by “microwave popcorn”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for popcorn?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, consumerreports.org, walmart.com, washingtonpost.com, realsimple.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.