Ferrara Candy to Acquire Jelly Belly

Ferrara Candy Co. has agreed to purchase Jelly Belly Candy Co. through CTH Invest, the lead holding company of Ferrara.

The proposed acquisition would combine Jelly Belly Candy'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, current executive vice president of Global Operations and Distribution of Jelly Belly, will become its chief executive officer.

“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.”

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.

“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.”

Headquartered in Chicago for more than 115 years and privately owned, Ferrara is the leading US sugar confections company and the manufacturer of 20 beloved brands such as Black Forest, NERDS, SweeTARTS, and Trolli. Ferrara is a Ferrero company.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.