Jelly Belly facts for kids
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Formerly
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| Subsidiary of Ferrara Candy Company | |
| Industry | Confections |
| Founded | 1869 in Belleville, Illinois, U.S. |
| Founder | Gustav Goelitz |
| Headquarters | Fairfield, California |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Herman G Rowland Sr., Chairman |
| Products | Jelly beans, candy corn, mellocremes, gummies, jells, chocolate confections |
| Revenue | $190 million |
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Number of employees
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800 |
The Jelly Belly Candy Company makes yummy jelly beans and other candies. It used to be called the Herman Goelitz Candy Company and the Goelitz Confectionery Company.
This American company is based in Fairfield, California. It also has a factory in North Chicago, Illinois. In 2008, they opened another factory in Rayong, Thailand, to make candies for people all over the world. In 2023, the Ferrara Candy Company announced they would buy Jelly Belly.
Contents
The Sweet History of Jelly Belly
Starting with Candy Corn: 1866–1913
The story began in 1866 when Gustav Goelitz came to the United States from Germany. In 1869, he started a candy business in Belleville, Illinois. His younger brothers, Albert and George, soon joined him.
Around 1898, the company started making "mellowcreme" candies. One famous mellowcreme candy is Candy corn. The Goelitz Confectionery Company became very good at selling these candies. They opened factories in Cincinnati in 1900 and Chicago in 1904. Later, in 1913, the company moved to North Chicago.
Growing with Jelly Beans: 1913–1980
Herman Goelitz, Gustav's son, moved to the West Coast. He started his own company, the Herman Goelitz Candy Company. By 1924, his company was in Oakland, California. In the 1960s, they started making new kinds of candy. This included jelly beans and other soft candies.
In 1965, they created a special "Mini Jelly Bean." This tiny jelly bean was unique because it had natural flavor inside and outside. This was a new idea for jelly beans back then!
Ronald Reagan, who later became president, loved these mini jelly beans. He first tried them in 1969. He even wrote a letter in 1973 saying, "we can hardly start a meeting or make a decision without passing around the jar of jelly beans."
In 1976, a candy seller named David Klein worked with Herman Rowland. Herman Rowland was Gustav Goelitz's grandson. They wanted to make a jelly bean with only natural flavors. They used the idea of the Mini Jelly Bean. This is how the famous Jelly Belly jelly bean was born! David Klein hired Herman Goelitz Candy Company to make them. He also came up with the name "Jelly Belly" and designed the well-known red and yellow logo.
The first Jelly Belly jelly beans were sold in 1976 at an ice cream shop in Alhambra, California. The first eight flavors were Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape, Licorice, Root Beer, and Cream Soda. David Klein also had the idea to sell each flavor separately, instead of just in a mix.
Jelly Belly Today: 1980–Present
Marinus van Dam, a product developer, helped create many new Jelly Belly flavors. By the 1980s, there were many different kinds. In 1980, David Klein sold the Jelly Belly name to the Rowland family. The "Mr. Jelly Belly" character was created in 1983.
When Ronald Reagan became president in 1981, everyone learned he loved Jelly Belly jelly beans. The company sent him beans throughout his time in office. President Reagan even sent Jelly Belly beans into space! They went on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. This was a big surprise for the astronauts!
In 2001, the company officially changed its name to Jelly Belly Candy Company. In October 2023, the Ferrara Candy Company announced it would buy Jelly Belly.
Delicious Jelly Belly Products
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
The most famous product is the Jelly Belly jelly bean. There are over 50 flavors! You can find classic tastes like orange and very cherry. There are also unique flavors like cinnamon, pomegranate, cappuccino, buttered popcorn, and chili-mango.
Jelly Belly also makes special jelly beans with licensed flavors, like Tabasco sauce. Some flavors, like lychee and green tea, are only sold outside the United States.
They have even made flavors inspired by drinks, like Mai Tai and margarita. In 2014, they introduced a Draft beer flavor! But don't worry, all these flavors are completely alcohol-free.
You might know "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans" from the Harry Potter books. These jelly beans have funny and sometimes gross flavors like "Vomit" and "Earwax." Jelly Belly also makes "BeanBoozled." This product has pairs of beans that look the same but taste very different. For example, one might be "Peach" and the other "Barf"!
"Sport Beans" are special jelly beans for athletes. They give you energy and help you perform better. They have carbohydrates, electrolytes, and vitamins. "Extreme Sport Beans" even have caffeine for an extra boost.
Other Candies
Besides jelly beans, Jelly Belly Candy Company makes over 100 other kinds of candy. This includes chocolates, licorice, gummies, and candy corn.
Jelly Belly Factories
The company has three factories where they make candy. These are in Fairfield, California, North Chicago, Illinois, and Rayong, Thailand. There was also a center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, that was used for shipping and visitors, but it closed in 2020.
