Jelly Belly Candy Company, manufacturer of Jelly Belly jelly beans and a wide range of confections, is a family owned and operated business now in its sixth generation of candy making. Jelly Belly jelly beans were introduced in 1976. In 1976, David Klein, a candy and nut distributor, approached the Herman Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) and requested a new type of jelly bean with "natural" ingredients sold in single flavors.Fruit purees and juice concentrates were added to the natural ingredients of the Herman Goelitz Candy Company Mini Gourmet Jelly Bean, and the Jelly Belly jelly bean was born.
Jelly Belly Candy Company traces its roots to the entrepreneurial efforts of Gustav Goelitz, who came to the United States in 1866 and with his younger brothers, Albert and George. They built a successful confectionery business: Gustav Goelitz Candy, in Belleville, Illinois, and later Goelitz Brothers' Candy in St. Louis, Missouri.[6] Gustav Goelitz learned to make candy in America and was in business for himself by 1869 in Belleville, Illinois. Gustav Goelitz was joined by his brother, Albert, and together they sold handmade candies from a horse-drawn cart. The Goelitz name developed a reputation for quality confections as the brothers expanded operations. Fourth-generation Goelitz descendent, Herman G. Rowland, Sr. and his parents, Ernest Rowland and Aloyse Rowland (maiden name Goelitz) continued the expansion of the company's products on the west coast in Oakland, CA then moving to Fairfield, CA. The Herman Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) company was the first American manufacturer to make a gummy bear for the US market. They also made candy corn, mellocremes, gummi worms, and giant jelly beans. Confectioner Marinus van Dam was employed by the company to manage the plant and oversee new product development including Jelly Belly jelly beans, obtaining a candy manufacturing degree in the Netherlands. He emigrated to the United States and went to work for the Herman Goelitz Candy Company in the 1960s. He rose to the level of vice president before moving on to other companies and finally starting his own business, Marich Confectionery.
Jelly Belly Candy Company traces its roots to the entrepreneurial efforts of Gustav Goelitz, who came to the United States in 1866 and with his younger brothers, Albert and George. They built a successful confectionery business: Gustav Goelitz Candy, in Belleville, Illinois, and later Goelitz Brothers' Candy in St. Louis, Missouri.[6] Gustav Goelitz learned to make candy in America and was in business for himself by 1869 in Belleville, Illinois. Gustav Goelitz was joined by his brother, Albert, and together they sold handmade candies from a horse-drawn cart. The Goelitz name developed a reputation for quality confections as the brothers expanded operations. Fourth-generation Goelitz descendent, Herman G. Rowland, Sr. and his parents, Ernest Rowland and Aloyse Rowland (maiden name Goelitz) continued the expansion of the company's products on the west coast in Oakland, CA then moving to Fairfield, CA. The Herman Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) company was the first American manufacturer to make a gummy bear for the US market. They also made candy corn, mellocremes, gummi worms, and giant jelly beans. Confectioner Marinus van Dam was employed by the company to manage the plant and oversee new product development including Jelly Belly jelly beans, obtaining a candy manufacturing degree in the Netherlands. He emigrated to the United States and went to work for the Herman Goelitz Candy Company in the 1960s. He rose to the level of vice president before moving on to other companies and finally starting his own business, Marich Confectionery.
