Williams Sonoma Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Peppermint Bark
Williams Sonoma, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, has released the 25th Anniversary of The Original Peppermint Bark. After 20 rounds of recipe testing, in 1998, Williams Sonoma founder Chuck Williams and the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen team developed the signature recipe for The Original Peppermint Bark that sparked a food trend that is celebrated by chocolate enthusiasts around the world during the holiday season.
The signature recipe for Williams Sonoma’s iconic Peppermint Bark combines a custom blend of light and dark Guittard chocolate layered with triple-distilled peppermint oil, to create a seasonal confection that is often replicated, but never matched in quality or flavor to the Williams Sonoma standard.
Those who eagerly await the annual arrival of the candy contribute to the consumption of over one million pounds of Guittard chocolate and 65,000 pounds of peppermint candy pieces. From start to finish, each batch of Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark takes more than 24 hours to make, and it takes Williams Sonoma’s chocolatiers over 12 weeks to produce enough Peppermint Bark to satiate the demand from customers.
The popularity of Peppermint Bark has prompted Williams Sonoma to also carry 35 different flavored products this year ranging from pretzels and cookies to an Espresso Martini Mix.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary , Williams Sonoma, together with Visa, has launched “A Chance To Win With Every Tin” campaign. There are over 1,500 gift cards hidden inside select tins with one tin containing a grand prize of a $1,000 Williams Sonoma gift card.
“We are proud to be the originators of the Peppermint Bark trend having developed a flavor profile that has become as synonymous with the holidays as pumpkin spice is to Fall,” said Williams Sonoma President Felix Carbullido. “For 25 years, our customers have celebrated the start of the holiday season with our signature Peppermint Bark, and we are excited to offer a commemorative tin this year in recognition of this anniversary.”
The complete collection is now available at all Williams Sonoma stores and on the Williams Sonoma website.
For more information on the collection, please visit:
www.williams-sonoma.com/peppermintbark.
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Ferrara to Acquire Jelly Belly Candy Company
Ferrara Candy Company will acquire Jelly Belly Candy Company through CTH Invest, the lead holding company of Ferrara. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The proposed acquisition would combine Jelly Belly Candy Company’s more than 100 flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans and gourmet specialty confections with Ferrara’s broad portfolio of sugar candies. Once the acquisition closes, nearly 800 global Jelly Belly employees and its facilities in California, Illinois and Thailand will join the Ferrara organization.
Jeff Brown, who is the executive vice president of global operations and distribution of Jelly Belly, will become its chief executive officer.
Jelly Belly Candy Company’s roots date back to its founding in Illinois in 1869 and it has continued to be family-owned and operated by the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of the Rowland candy-making family. Its signature brand of Jelly Belly jelly beans has been one of the most loved and recognizable candy products in the world since its introduction in 1976. Its extensive portfolio includes more than 100 flavors of its well-known jelly beans and a wide variety of other candies.
The company is also well-known for its specialty retail confections, including jelly bean lines such as BeanBoozled jelly beans and Sport Beans Energizing jelly beans. Today, Jelly Belly distributes its products in more than 60 countries across five continents and has a strong track record of sustained and profitable growth.
Headquartered in Chicago for more than 115 years and privately owned, Ferrara is the leading U.S. sugar confections company and the manufacturer of 20 beloved brands such as Black Forest, NERDS, SweeTARTS and Trolli. Ferrara is a Ferrero related company.
“As we considered the future of Jelly Belly Candy Company, we have been steadfast in our commitment to create a win-win situation for our employees, consumers, and products,” said Herman Rowland, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jelly Belly. “When I met with the Ferrara team, I recognized a like-minded group that shares our knowledge and passion for the candy business and has the talent and resources to grow our products and the careers of our people around the world. I am confident of the continued success of Jelly Belly as part of the Ferrara portfolio.”
“Since our inception almost a century and a half ago, Jelly Belly Candy Company has been focused on providing exciting new flavors and continuous innovation, and we are extremely proud of the deep affinity we’ve built with our fans around the world,” said Lisa Brasher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jelly Belly. “Ferrara’s interest reflects the substantial value of our storied brand, built on our team’s many successes, and the opportunity to drive continued growth. We look forward to being a part of this impressive company.”
“We are excited to bring Jelly Belly’s imaginative products and talented team into the Ferrara community,” said Marco Capurso, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrara. “Our dedication to creating high-quality, innovative sugar confections for the world and our deep relationships with retailers aligns perfectly with the Jelly Belly track record and passion for quality, reliability, and customer service. We look forward to working together to build on the success of all our brands.”
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023 and is subject to certain closing conditions.
Raymond James acted as exclusive financial advisor and Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal counsel to Jelly Belly. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel to Ferrara Candy Company.
For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is a leading sugar confectioner in the United States with its broad portfolio of Ferrara products and a leader in Brazil through its Dori Alimentos products.
Ferrara boasts a passionate team of more than 7,500 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like NERDS, SweeTARTS, Laffy Taffy and Trolli to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz and Yogurte 100 in Brazil.
Ferrara’s innovation success has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company.
With candy-making roots dating back to 1869, Jelly Belly Candy Company began making Jelly Belly jelly beans in 1976. Today, Jelly Belly confections are sold all over the world and the company has remained family-owned and operated by the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of the candy-making family.
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GoMacro Reteams With Keep A Breast Foundation
GoMacro, known for its organic, plant-based nutrition bars, is continuing its partnership with the Keep A Breast Foundation for the seventh consecutive year.
KAB is a nonprofit organization on a mission to reduce breast cancer risk and its impact globally. Through self-check resources, prevention education, and arts and wellness programs, KAB strives to empower youth to become their own health advocates, on their own terms, in their own voice and space. Today, they offer a wide variety of programming in support of their mission including the Keep A Breast App, the Give Back Grant Program and Fit4Prevention.
GoMacro’s partnership with the foundation is particularly meaningful due to their founders’ experience with breast cancer. Following co-founder Amelia’s 2003 breast cancer diagnosis, she and her daughter, Jola, made several diet and lifestyle changes to support her healing journey.
During the search for a delicious treat that suited her new needs, Amelia created the original MacroBar recipe in her family kitchen. In the face of adversity, Jola and Amelia came together, fought the cancer, and Amelia won. In the years following, the mother-daughter team began sharing the power of a balanced, plant-based lifestyle through their delicious, organic nutrition bars.
“During my battle with cancer, there weren’t any snacks on the market that suited my new dietary needs and tasted great,” says Amelia. “After making the first batch of what became the MacroBar recipe, we knew it was something we needed to share with the world.”
Along with spreading the power of a plant-based lifestyle, Jola and Amelia wanted to support organizations with shared values – and Keep A Breast was a natural partnership.
“Our 5 Principles – Live Long, Eat Positive, Give Back, Tread Lightly, and Be Well – guide all we do at GoMacro. One of the ways we Give Back is by donating to organizations whose values and missions align with ours,” says GoMacro CEO and co-founder Jola Sonkin. “Breast cancer prevention is a cause that is especially close to our hearts, and we love supporting Keep A Breast’s practical and unique approaches to prevention.”
Partner with GoMacro in supporting the Keep A Breast Foundation by purchasing the Cherries + Berries Give Back Bar online or at a retailer near you throughout October.
The GoMacro facility is powered by 100% renewable energy, and all MacroBars are made with high-quality, sustainably sourced, plant-based ingredients.
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