Fairfield, California, Oct. 19 - Jelly Belly Candy Company has signed an agreement to acquire the candy manufacturing and trade name assets of Ben Myerson Candy Company, Los Angeles, Calif. Ben Myerson Candy Company manufactures the Christopher's line of chocolates and is the licensee of Sunkist confectionery products, including Sunkist Fruit Gems.
The family candy making heritage of Ben Myerson Candy Co. is much respected and a good fit for Jelly Belly, according to Herman G. Rowland, Sr., chairman of the board.
Jelly Belly Candy Company expects to move Myerson’s candy manufacturing and shipping operations to the company’s plants in California and Illinois. Other details of the deal will remain undisclosed until the acquision is complete in early November.
The Ben Myerson Candy Company will continue to operate business in the wine and spirits industry. The proposed sale of the confectionery business coincides with the announcement of Robert Myerson’s retirement after 65 years in the candy business. Three generations of the Myerson family have made candy, beginning with Ben Myerson who started his career in the candy industry in 1912. Ben Myerson Candy Company opened in 1937, and in 1955 the company acquired Christopher’s, one of the oldest candy manufacturers in the country dating back to 1887.
About Jelly Belly:
Jelly Belly Candy Company, headquartered in Fairfield, Calif., is a family owned and operated confectionery manufacturer run by the fourth and fifth generation of candy makers. Known worldwide for Jelly Belly jelly beans, the company also makes over 100 gourmet confections including gummies, jells, chocolate panned sweets and seasonal lines.
About Sunkist:
Founded in 1893, Sunkist is America’s oldest and largest citrus marketing company and is owned by more than 6,000 citrus growers in California and Arizona. Over the years, Sunkist has built an international citrus marketing organization and a brand that is one of the best known and most respected in the world. Through its global licensing program, Sunkist partners with companies offering a range of food and beverage products that extend the Sunkist brand and reflect its reputation for enjoyment and great taste.