ONE woman chose a unique place to start her popcorn business – from behind bars.
When Emily O’Brien was 26, she was convicted of drug smuggling and went on to serve a four-year sentence in a Canadian prison.
At the age of 23, Emily received a bachelor’s degree in international development and launched a social media company.
However, her personal life was troubled by family issues and her increasing reliance on alcohol and eventually drugs as a coping mechanism.
Emily found support in one of her clients, Noah however, his intentions took a dark turn when he suggested smuggling drugs during a trip to St. Lucia.
“Noah drove me down a quiet road to a rundown bed and breakfast,” she explained.
“It soon became clear he had used my passport photo to notify drug dealers that we were couriers,” said Emily, who along with Noah, took eight pounds of cocaine from the strangers.
“At the airport, I hid two pounds in the back of my bike shorts and another loosely fastened to my front,” Emily said.
“It looked as though I was hoarding a box of tissues, all the while, Noah reassured me everything would be OK, and law officials wouldn’t suspect a thing,” she added.
Emily was approached by an immigration officer after landing in Canada and, after a physical search was ordered, she admitted she was carrying cocaine.
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“I spent the weekend in jail, and my parents, who were in the middle of a divorce at the time, posted $50,000 bail,” Emily revealed.
She remained under house arrest at her family home until her court date.
“I severed ties with Noah and after two and a half years of house arrest, my hearing finally arrived in January 2018,” she said.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years, with the possibility of parole.
Emily was incarcerated in a medium-security prison where she found it easy to form connections with the other inmates.
“We were restricted to spending our $36 weekly allowance on items listed in Canada’s Food Guide, pooling resources to create communal dishes and indulging in occasional treats,” explained Emily.
She began experimenting with seasonings such as lemon pepper and dill to elevate the prison’s popcorn, which she described as “a crowd favorite.”
The “delicious” result inspired her to set up a popcorn business after her time was served.
In December 2018, Emily was released on parole and transferred to a halfway house, finding work at a local gym.
Within two years, she launched Comeback Snacks, a popcorn company that employs formerly incarcerated individuals and advocates for their fair treatment in society.
Emily began to experiment with various flavors, including salted chocolate caramel and peanut butter jelly.
She even poked fun at her past by incorporating the slogan “Popcorn so good, it’s criminal.”
However, she insists that Comeback Snacks isn’t just about the popcorn.
“A percentage of sales have gone to Elizabeth Fry Society, which offers services for women as they go through the court process, incarceration, and reintegration,” Emily explained.
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“I served time in prison, and I’m on a mission to change views about rehabilitation and the importance of second chances.”
Comeback Snacks now employs formerly incarcerated individuals and distributes to 800 locations across Canada and the U.S.
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Roisin Chapman
