Dale & Thomas bets on premium popcorn

There is urgency in the air at Dale &Thomas in Englewood, N.J., where Chief Executive Warren Struhl, its majority stakeholder, wants to prove that his firm can become, if not the "Starbucks of popcorn,"as he often says, at least a profitable enterprise. The company's signature product--sweet popcorn flavored with chocolate, caramel and such--is sold in 12 company-owned stores for $7 per 5-ounce bag.