Jelly Belly Sales are Sweet During Recession
Posted on June 25, 2008
We're in a recession. The Japanese aren't buying luxury goods anymore. Gas is sky high. But there is one company that is doing just great: Jelly Belly. The maker of gourmet jelly beans is selling jelly beans as fast as they can make them.
The New York Times reports that Jelly Belly's sales are up 25% since 2006. They are an "anomaly in the stagnant $29.1 billion candy industry."
"All you have to do is look at them, and they are brighter, shinier and prettier," said Sarah Gencarelli, a candy reviewer for CandyAddict.com, a blog about sweets. With unusual and, in her opinion, superior flavors like buttered popcorn, kiwi, margarita and cappuccino, she said, "Jelly Belly has this artisanal niche."The challenge for the company now is to maintain that gourmet image as it moves into more retail outlets. While Jelly Belly beans used to be hard to find, available only in large glass jars in mom-and-pop candy shops, they have been gradually appearing since 2000 packaged in more grocery and convenience stores as well as at mass merchandisers like Wal-Mart, Office Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond.
We love Jelly Bellies. They have no fat, are low in calories and pack a mega sugar hit. Our favorite flavors are lemon and tangerine -- just in case you were wondering. Although we are always interested in discovering a great new flavor.
Here's a fun video from Jelly Belly containing fun facts about Jelly Belly.