LesserEvil

{{Short description|American company producing snack foods}}

{{Not to be confused with|Lesser evil}}

{{Infobox company

| name = LesserEvil, LLC

| former_names =

| logo = File:LesserEvil company logo.png

| logo_caption =

| logo_size = 200

| type = Private

| fate =

| predecessors =

| successor =

| foundation = {{start date and age|2004}}

| founder = Michael A. Sands

| location_city = Danbury, Connecticut

| location_country = U.S.

| location =

| key_people = Charles Coristine, CEO

| area_served = North America

| industry = Food

| products = Snack foods, organic foods

| brands =

| services =

| revenue = approaching $100M in 2023

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| num_employees = 250

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| owner =

| homepage = {{official URL}}

| dissolved =

| footnotes =

}}

LesserEvil is an American snack company located in Danbury, Connecticut founded in 2004. The company makes a variety of packaged snack products including prepopped popcorn and extruded snacks.

The company promotes its products as a healthy alternative; in 2023 it was sued by a consumer for misrepresentation.

== History ==

File:LesserEvil company logo 2013-2019.png

File:LesserEvil Product Family.JPG

LesserEvil was founded in 2004 by Michael A. Sands,{{cite news|last=Moran Alterio|first=Julie|date=August 13, 2008|title=Snack company markets to presidential race|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-lesserevil-founder-mich/131265720/|work=The Journal News|location=White Plains, New York|access-date=September 5, 2023}} Gene Hackman, and Jim Cramer in Tuckahoe, New York.{{cite news|url=https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Judges-like-what-they-savor-in-LesserEvil-3442484.php|title=Judges like what they savor in LesserEvil|last=Lee|first=Richard|date=March 8, 2012|website=The Stamford Advocate|publisher=Hearst|access-date=September 2, 2023}}

Their initial product offering was a kettlecorn and expanded into multiple varieties.{{Cite web |last=Briskin |first=Lizzy |title=I'm a chef. I tried 3 popular types of bagged popcorn to see which is the best. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/whats-the-best-popcorn-at-the-grocery-store-chef-reviews-2022-4 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} In 2006 they introduced a second line, Krinkle Sticks,{{cite web|title=The LesserEvil History|website=LesserEvil.com|date=2009|publisher=LesserEvil Brand Snack Co.|url=http://www.lesserevil.com/category/lesserevilhistory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812134826/http://www.lesserevil.com/category/lesserevilhistory |access-date=September 3, 2023|archive-date=2009-08-12 }} and later lines of extruded curls and puffs intended to compete in the cheese puff category.{{Cite web |last=Matthews |first=Melissa |date=2019-09-04 |title=These Egg White Curls Are Basically Paleo Cheetos |url=https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a28914456/paleo-snacks-egg-white-curls/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bricker |first=Tierney |date=2021-03-22 |title=15 Healthy and Satisfying Snacks for Spring |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1250907/15-healthy-and-satisfying-snacks-for-spring |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=E! Online}}{{Cite web |last=Watrous |first=Monica |date=29 August 2021 |title=New sustainable snacks debut from LesserEvil Healthy Brands {{!}} 2021-09-29 {{!}} Baking Business |url=https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/54776-new-sustainable-snacks-debut-from-lesserevil-healthy-brands |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Baking Business |language=en}}

In 2011 Charles Coristine, a former bond trader,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robdube/2019/09/03/searching-for-a-smarter-snack-how-this-mindful-leader-created-a-lesserevil/?sh=aed32b45d46c|title=Searching for a Smarter Snack: How This Mindful Leader Created A LesserEvil|last=Dube|first=Rob|date=September 2, 2019|website=Forbes|publisher=Advantage Media|access-date=April 2, 2024}} acquired LesserEvil{{cite web |last=Larson |first=Andrew |date=June 26, 2023 |title=Nearing $100M in annual revenues, CT's LesserEvil expands organic snack foods line, readies new in-state manufacturing plant |url=https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/nearing-100m-in-annual-revenues-cts-lesserevil-expands-organic-snack-foods-line-readies-new |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Hartford Business Journal |publisher=New England Business Media}} and opened its Danbury factory the following year.{{cite web|url=https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/danbury/business/lesserevil-snacks-opens-a-new-factory-in-danbury/580408/|title=LesserEvil Snacks Opens A New Factory In Danbury|last=Smith|first=Alissa|date=May 30, 2013|website=Daily Voice|publisher=Cantata Media LLC|access-date=September 3, 2023}} At this point, the company's headquarters was still located in Wilton, Connecticut, but operations moved to Commerce Park in Danbury by 2013.{{cite web|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013|author=David W. St. Hilaire|publisher=City of Danbury Department of Finance|date=2013|url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/73|access-date=September 2, 2023}} The factory is certified organic.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Marcy |date=2023-03-15 |title='Lesser Evil' taking over the world with healthy snacks |url=https://www.wfsb.com/2023/03/15/lesser-evil-taking-over-world-with-healthy-snacks/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=WFSB |language=en}}

LesserEvil underwent a rebrand in 2019, which emphasized "mindful" snacking, reiterated by the guru mascots featured on the packaging.{{cite web |last=Cabrey |first=Erin |date=July 13, 2020 |title=LesserEvil Moves Into New Categories, Expands Distribution |url=https://www.nosh.com/news/2020/lesserevil-moves-into-new-categories-expands-distribution/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |website=Nosh |publisher=NevNET}}

In April 2022, the company acquired energy bar maker R.E.D.D. Bar.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/21129-lesserevil-enters-bar-category-with-acquisition-of-redd-bar|title=LesserEvil enters bar category with acquisition of R.E.D.D. Bar|last=Nunes|first=Keith|date=April 13, 2022|website=Food Business News|publisher=Sosland Publishing|access-date=September 3, 2023}} The following year, LesserEvil sold a “significant minority” stake of the business to Aria Growth Partners, with the intention to further develop manufacturing and retail distribution.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Simon |date=2023-09-21 |title=LesserEvil snack maker gets capital injection from Aria Growth Partners |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/lesserevil-snack-maker-gets-capital-injection-from-aria-growth-partners/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Just Food |language=en-US}}

According to the Hartford Business Journal, the company was expected to have close to $100M in revenues in 2023 and was one of the largest producers of organic snacks in the US.

In April 2025, Hershey signed an agreement to acquire LesserEvil.{{cite web |last1=Sousa |first1=Rafaela |title=Hershey to acquire organic snack maker LesserEvil |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/hershey-to-acquire-organic-snack-maker-lesserevil |website=www.foodbev.com |publisher=FoodBev Media |access-date=4 April 2025 |language=en}}