From door-to-door to airport shelves: Tidwell Middle School student builds statewide popcorn brand

Written by: Chloe Danicki (Northwest High School senior)

What began as a childhood hobby for Tidwell Middle School sixth grader Audrey Harrison has grown into an impressive youth-led business success story. At just 13, Audrey is already one of the state’s youngest entrepreneurs, leading a gourmet popcorn brand now sold in airports across Texas.

Audrey launched her company when she was only five years old, driven not by a business plan but by a simple wish: to make people happy. Alongside her family, she spent years perfecting a popcorn and caramel recipe — a process she admits was filled with trial, error and plenty of burnt batches before they landed on the flavor that felt right.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Audrey said. “I was just a 5-year-old girl selling door to door, trying to make people happy. When we partnered with our factory, I started to realize this could really turn into something amazing.”

For years, Audrey sold popcorn the old-fashioned way — knocking on doors, setting up tables around her neighborhood and speaking directly with customers. She frequently made around 80 bags at a time, learning early what it meant to work hard and stay patient.

In 2022, everything changed. Audrey’s company partnered with a factory capable of producing up to 80,000 bags a day, transforming a small neighborhood business into a scalable Texas brand. Today, her popcorn can be found in Hudson stores at DFW International, Dallas Love Field and Houston airports, with more retailers showing interest as her company continues to grow.

The inspiration for Audrey’s business came after watching a small local store operate and realizing she could create something similar — but with a twist. She noticed that the market lacked a major gourmet popcorn brand and saw an opportunity.

“There wasn’t a major gourmet brand,” she said. “It just felt like an open spot that we could fill.”

With help from her father, Audrey expanded online as well, setting up an Amazon storefront to reach customers beyond Texas. She describes the process with a simplicity that reflects her confidence: “You just sign up, put everything into the system, and wait for approval.”

Running a business at such a young age has taught Audrey lessons many entrepreneurs learn much later, especially the value of persistence and the inevitability of hearing “no.”

“Selling and learning life lessons — especially taking negatives, like people saying no — has helped me grow,” she said.

When speaking to other young entrepreneurs, her advice is straightforward: “Just go and do it. Even if it’s just setting up a little table at the park and selling something — start.”

One of Audrey’s biggest milestones came through an unexpected encounter. While selling popcorn along Main Street in Grapevine, she met an employee from DFW Airport who invited her to an event. That introduction led her to the owners of Hudson stores, who quickly embraced her product. A few months later, her popcorn officially hit airport shelves.
 

Audrey has also used her experience to inspire others. She recently spoke at Southern Methodist University, addressing students in a family-owned business course and becoming one of the youngest entrepreneurs to speak to students in SMU’s MBA program. She shared her story, offered advice and encouraged students to push forward in the face of challenges.

Looking to the future, Audrey hopes to expand her brand into more stores nationwide. Her long-term goal? To grow the company and eventually sell it.

Her father, Jeff Harrison, said Audrey’s persistence is what has carried her business so far.

“It takes so much time to do this,” he said. “We spent every weekend, rain or shine. There were times when nothing happened, and it felt as if it might not work. But we always reminded Audrey of four things: Make a profit, build the brand, meet at least one person who could change everything and always capture contacts so we could thank them later. Those were the most important pieces — and she stuck with them.”

As for life after high school, Audrey isn’t sure yet. If her company hasn’t sold by then, she plans to keep growing it until the timing is right.

From selling popcorn door-to-door to launching a product in major Texas airports, Audrey Harrison’s story is one of resilience, creativity and fearless ambition — a journey that continues to inspire her community and young entrepreneurs across the state.