Andy Friedman founded SkinnyPop Popcorn in 2010, due to the tremendous untapped demand for a better-for-you, ready-to-eat popcorn. SkinnyPop sold its first bag in August of 2010 and today can be found in well over 50,000 stores nationwide and in many international markets. Andy was the Chief Executive Officer from inception until July 2014 when SkinnyPop sold a majority stake to TA Associates. 

SkinnyPop subsequently changed its name to Amplify Snack Brands, Inc. and, in August 2015, Amplify Snack Brands completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol BETR). Andy was on the board of directors at Amplify Snack Brands from July 2014 through January 2018 when The Hershey Company acquired Amplify Snack Brands.

Andy spent the first part of his career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Jones Lang LaSalle. He spent the early 2000s buying, building and operating gasoline stations and travel centers located throughout the Midwest. In 2007, Andy founded Wells Street Popcorn with the goal of delivering the highest-quality gourmet popcorn nationwide.

Andy focuses most of his attention now as an investor and advisor across a diverse set of industries.

 

Andy graduated with honors from the University of Michigan, where he received a B.A.; he earned an M.B.A. majoring in finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.