by Ryan Gripp, posted August 17, 2009 at 12:52 pm
One of the most popular candy items of all time is the Jelly Belly. In fact Jelly Belly’s go back a long way and made great strides in all of their flavors. Here is a brief history of them courtesy of Wikipedia:
David Klein (born in 1946) created the marketing concept of a new kind of jelly bean to be sold in single flavors in 1976 He approached the family operating Herman Goelitz Candy Company to manufacture it. Fourth generation Goelitz descendent Herman G. Rowland, Sr., and his parents had decided to expand the company’s products more than a decade before. The company was the first American manufacturer to make a gummi bear for the US market. They also made candy corn, mellocremes, gummi worms, giant jelly beans and mini jelly beans, which were the precursor to the famous Jelly Belly jelly bean. Confectioner Marinus van Dam was employed by the company to manage the plant and oversee new product development with Herman Rowland. Marinus van Dam was born in Ooltgensplaat, a township in Oostflakkee, Netherlands, on October 24, 1929. After 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.
Traditional jelly beans started out with plain, uncolored pectin centers that were merely sweetened with sugar. Only the outer candy coating was colored and flavored. The third and fourth generation of the candy family decided to produce a superior jelly bean to set itself off from traditional jelly beans. The centers for the company’s mini jelly bean were colored and flavored. This flavor enhancing process was also used on the outer candy shell. With the new generation of Jelly Belly beans the company used real fruit juices and natural flavors when possible to boost the taste experience further. The finished Jelly Belly beans contained about half the sugar of the regular jelly bean, and were more flavorful than the generic jelly beans sold in stores.
David Klein sold the first Jelly Belly jelly beans in an ice cream parlor, Fosselman’s, in Alhambra, California in 1976. The first flavors were Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape, Licorice, Root Beer, and Cream Soda.
With that we have two great choices for our Jelly Belly fans, the Christmas and Autumn gift packs. Each gift pack comes with over 39 different flavors sure to put a smile on either yourself or someone whom you choose to give a gift. Each gift pack is a steal for only $13.95, versus paying up to $18 or more for these gifts. These are a popular item and could very well sell out of stock, so be sure to get your orders in before we run out! What are your favorite flavors when using Jelly Bellies?
by Mary Kearney, posted August 6, 2009 at 8:15 am
Get organized and prepared to head back to school. Here are some tips for an easier transition:
- Talk about going back to school with your child and talk about all the fun it will be too, be positive
- Reassure your child if they are anxious
- Move their bedtime up a few weeks before school starts
- Do a calender or establish times for homework, tv, bath and bedtime
- Try and get reconnected with classmates to get your child excited about school
Get ready for back to school with a great priced Mead Backpacks or Lunch Totes and School Supply Stock-Up Values. Good Luck!
by Mary Kearney, posted July 30, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Hey Animal Lovers, does your dog love to play fetch? Try this 3-D Plush Ring Dog Toy with squeaker inside for only $4.95. Show you care, your dog deserves it! Or have your dog run in style with these doggone cute tees for your favorite 4-legged friend. Eye-catching Embroidered Dog Tees give any dog an edge on fashion with a little bit of attitude and a whole lot of cute.
by Ryan Gripp, posted July 23, 2009 at 7:16 am
Employee Appreciation Luncheons were hosted during the week of May 4, 2009. These annual luncheons are held to show our dedicated employees how much their hard work is appreciated. This is just one of the many things we do as a company to show our employees that we value their contributions. Lakeside has a long standing tradition of celebrating our employees through recognition programs, monthly birthday celebrations, and different events throughout the year.
Our Executive and Management teams prepared and served our 1,571 employees in each of our locations. This tradition is fun for all of our employees because the Executives and Managers enjoy being directly involved in providing the food, and the employees enjoy seeing their managers work hard to host this event for them. The menu consisted of grilled, marinated steak and chicken, salad and other various sides, veggie burgers, and cupcakes.
by Mary Kearney, posted July 17, 2009 at 8:21 am
Does anyone out there have a summer tradition they look forward to every summer? For me it is the weekly Friday ice cream truck with all the kids on the street. You can hear the melodic chimes of the truck a few streets away. Once it is heard by the kids, it is chaos with all the kids screaming and doing an ice cream dance, ahh to be young again. The tradition continues with them all sitting on the neighbor’s stairs to eat their ice cream that drips down their face onto their clothes, sticking to the sand and whatever else they have gotten into that day. Maybe we should make ice cream the 5th food group!
by Ryan Gripp, posted July 9, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Here at the Lakeside Collection we are celebrating the imminent release of the new Harvest Catalog. In this new catalog you’ll find hundreds of new items and unbeatable prices. Some of the items that I really enjoyed are:
The Quick Lawn Grass seed which is perfect for those areas in your yard that aren’t full of grass that your neighbors don’t seem to have a problem with. You’ll be the envy of your neighbors with this new quick grass seed and compete for the best looking lawn in your neighborhood.
If you are like me odds are, you love cookies. I simply love them. Thankfully we sell cookie sheets that are insulated and offer a great way to bake fresh homemade cookies. These cookie sheets offer triple layer protection with a combination of heavyweight steel and an aluminum radiant shield you get two sets for only $14.95, which you can compare to other stores that sell these for $14.95 for just 1 cookie sheet!
by Mary Kearney, posted July 2, 2009 at 7:23 am
Photo by Stuck in Customs
Article by Sherry Alvarez, Accounts and Order Processing Manager
The temperature outside is quickly rising and it is time to break out the sunscreen. Finally, you, your friends and your family can spend time outside. Do you enjoy camping, the beach or just being outdoors? There is so much you can do in the summer.
I enjoy many summertime activities like biking, camping and one of my favorite holidays, The Fourth of July. As far back as I can remember, The Fourth of July was a time when you had cookouts, you went to the local carnival where you spent your weekly allowance trying to win that stuffed bear while enjoying some cotton candy. You could barely wait to view the spectacular fireworks.
This is something that I now get to enjoy with my family and friends. Every year we go to the Great Lakes Naval Base. We bring our cooler of snacks and drinks, spread out a blanket and a couple of lawn chairs, throw the Frisbee around and then sit back and enjoy the entertainment. The big moment comes when they start the fireworks. They are amazing and although I’m not a kid anymore, I still sit there with my family in awe of the beautiful colors.
So whether I’m at the beach, in my backyard or enjoying The Fourth of July, I find all kinds of items at the Lakeside Collection to make these times even more enjoyable. Check our collection of coolers starting at $3.95 and couple that with our collections of throws and you will be set. You’ll probably want to sit down and our chairs start at a very low $6.95.
Soon you will be making great memories with your family that they will come to cherish as I do with mine!
by Mary Kearney, posted June 19, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Happy Father’s Day to all those men who have acted as a father figure, whether as Stepfathers- Uncles- Grandfathers or Big Brothers. Let these men know how much they are appreciated and loved. And for you daughters out there, make sure you do something extra and tell your father what an important role he plays in your life. I know my dad and me have a special bond- not sure how to explain it but I understand my dad and know he would do anything for me. It has been fun witnessing this same thing with my daughter and husband. She truly has him wrapped around her finger!
Father’s Day is celebrated this year on Sunday, June 21st, enjoy the day!
by Mary Kearney, posted June 12, 2009 at 5:32 am
It’s that time again when kids rejoice and sing Alice Cooper’s 1972 hit, “School’s Out.” In the spirit of music, don’t underestimate the importance of music for a child’s development because it is very important for math skills and their capacity to learn more. Encourage kids to listen to and make music themselves and make music part of every day. Music also helps with social skills, have the kids play together. It helps with language skills, some kids can barely talk but can sing the ABC song. Music can be a positive outlet when trying to switch to a different activity or managing behavior such as frustration. Music is fun and a great way for your kids to express themselves. Let the fun of summer begin, rock on!
by Ryan Gripp, posted June 9, 2009 at 6:47 am
Photo by Pranav
We recently posted up a section related to Lakeside’s commitment to the environment. Here is a brief excerpt of the article and you are encouraged to visit the section to see what we are doing to help the environment.
“At The Lakeside Collection®, we take our role as one of America’s premier catalog marketers seriously. As such, we recognize our responsibility to conserve and protect our natural resources, and have made significant strides toward a “greener” future. From our commitment to responsible paper procurement and catalog manufacturing, to ecologically conscious packaging programs, recycling initiatives and more, The Lakeside Collection® has established a conservation program that continues to grow. We’ve made great progress, and though we still have more to do, it is our goal to conduct our business with a sense of mindfulness and appreciation for the world and its natural resources.”
