Every February, more than 100 of Arizona’s best restaurants, chefs and food purveyors descend on the Desert Botanical Garden for the Devour Culinary Classic. It’s a two-day celebration of everything that makes eating in this state so ridiculously good. Wagyu tataki. Pork belly pastrami. Heritage pork confit on heirloom masa arepa. The kind of dishes that make you wonder if you’ve been seriously underestimating Phoenix your whole life.
And then there was us. With our popcorn.
We’ll be honest: showing up to Devour as a packaged food brand, surrounded by some of the most celebrated culinary talent in Arizona, is a little bit like bringing a baseball cap to the Met Gala. But Kettle Heroes has always believed that great snacking belongs in the same conversation as great food. So we showed up, we set up, and we let Phoenix decide.
Phoenix decided. And we are still smiling about it.
We Won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Packaged Food
At Devour Culinary Classic 2026, Kettle Heroes Popcorn was voted the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Packaged Food by event attendees. Not a panel of judges. Not an industry committee. The people who were actually there, tasting everything the Arizona food scene had to offer, chose us.
That distinction means everything to us. It’s the difference between being recognized by experts and being chosen by your community. For a brand built on the idea that everyone deserves a genuinely great snack, the latter hits different.
Devour Culinary Classic, now in its 18th year, is organized by Local First Arizona, a nonprofit dedicated to championing locally owned businesses and building a stronger Arizona economy. This year’s event showcased more than 100 restaurants and purveyors. If you missed it, the Phoenix New Times has a great look inside the weekend.
Thank You, Phoenix. We Mean It.
This award belongs to every single person who grabbed a bag, tried a flavor and cast their vote. You didn’t have to pick us. You could have voted for any number of incredible local makers at that event. The fact that you chose Kettle Heroes is something we don’t take for granted.
We also want to say a genuine thank-you to the entire Devour team and everyone at Local First Arizona for putting together an event that so beautifully celebrates what Arizona’s food community is capable of. Devour isn’t just a food festival. It’s a reminder of how much talent exists in this state, and how powerful it is when that community gets to show up together. We’re proud to be part of that story.
What We Were Pouring (Well, Pouring Adjacent)
If you stopped by our table at Devour, you may have finally gotten your hands on our two newest flavors, Spicy Dill Pickle Popcorn and Truffle Sea Salt & Vinegar Popcorn. If Devour was your first introduction to either of them, you’re welcome. The reactions out there told us Phoenix is very much on board.
You can catch a peek at the Devour fun over on our Instagram, and if you didn’t get a chance to sample at the event, keep an eye on where to find us next.
What’s Next for Kettle Heroes
Winning a People’s Choice Award doesn’t change who we are. It just confirms what we’ve been working toward. We’re a Phoenix-rooted brand that genuinely loves this city and the community that keeps showing up for us. Events like Devour remind us why we do what we do.
So: thank you, Phoenix. This one’s for you. Now go grab a bag.
Want to stay in the loop on new flavors and local events? Follow us on Instagram @kethero. Want Kettle Heroes popcorn now? Find us in a store near you.
