History of Jelly Belly

This week’s feature is the company behind the legendary jelly bean - Jelly Belly.

The Jelly Belly company all began when Gustav Goelitz opened a candy business in 1869 in Illinois. In those days however, they were not making jelly beans yet. By the late 19th century they specialized in making candy corns and “royal buttercreams”.

It was only in the 1960s, did descendants of Gustav Goelitz start producing the famous Jelly beans along with a variety of other sweets such as tangerine slices and spice drops.

These early Jelly beans however, are unlike the ones we know and love today. For starters, they were not flavoured. Flavouring at the center of Jelly beans was only added in 1965.In 1976, Jelly Belly launched their first line of original flavours. These flavours were root beer, green apple, liquorice, cream soda, lemon, tangerine, very cherry and grape.

Interesting fact: Because of Ronald Reagan’s love for Jelly beans, three and a half tonnes of red, blue and white jelly beans were shipped to the White house for his presidential inauguration in 1981.

In the year 1983, the beloved character, Mr. Jelly Belly made first public appearance.

Did you know the first savoury flavour of jelly beans was buttered popcorn? It was launched in 1989. Another interesting fact is that they only began stamping Jelly Belly on every Jelly bean in 1996.

Since their, creation in 1869, Jelly Belly has grown into a massive sweet company and their signature sweet has been developed into a huge variety of flavours.

Please share this post with your fellow Jelly Belly lovers. Don’t forget to comment below on what candy you want us to feature next and watch out for a new post which will be posted in one to two weeks.

Source:
https://www.jellybelly.com/company-history
Picture:
http://www.duetsblog.com/2015/12/articles/trademarks/jelly-belly-seeks-registration-of-candy-shape/