David Klein (businessman)

David Klein is the developer of the Jelly Belly brand of jelly beans.[1]

David Klein
Born
Syracuse, New York
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles, Southwestern Law School
OccupationConfectioner
Known forDeveloper of the Jelly Belly
SpouseRebecca (m 1970 died 2020)
ChildrenRoxanne and Bert

Early life

Klein was born in Syracuse, New York in 1946.[2] He moved to California at the age of three. Klein eventually attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied economics. Klein then went on to obtain a law degree from Southwestern Law School, but after taking the bar exam decided not to pursue a career as a lawyer.[3]

Career

In 1976, Klein lived in Temple City and started the distribution company, Garvey Nut & Candy.[4][5] He came up with the idea for a new type of jelly bean,[5] later called "Jelly Belly", and asked The Herman Goelitz Candy Company to make a batch for him.[4][6]

Klein then rented a corner of Fosselman's Ice Cream in Alhambra, California to sell the new type of jelly beans.[7] The first flavors were Very Cherry, Tangerine, Lemon, Green Apple, Grape Jelly, Licorice, Root Beer, and Cream Soda. Total sales for the first seven-day period was $44. The product was selling for $2 per pound, which was considered a very high price at the time. Klein convinced the Associated Press to write a story, arranging for friends and family to act as customers. The article caused sales to spike.[7]

In 1980, Klein and his partner sold their rights[8] in Jelly Belly® to The Herman Goelitz Candy Company, for $5 million, to be paid out over 20 years.[4][5][1] Klein and his partner each received about $10,000 per month for 20 years, in exchange for their share of the Jelly Belly brand, including the trademark of that name.[7]

David's Signature Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans are named after David Klein.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

In 2017 David Klein moved operations of Can You Imagine That and his new branded company Candyman Kitchens to Florida. They produce Sandy Candy as well as other new confections out of their factory in Largo, Florida.

Projects

In 2016 he launched a crowdfunding support page for 'THE ORIGINAL COFFEE HOUSE BEANS.' The combination of flavors delivers a taste mimicking gourmet coffee flavors. On its Kickstarter page, it is described as "a conventional jelly bean center texture surrounded by the most imaginative flavors on the outside of the bean."[15]

In 2019, he created a campaign for Polar Popcorn - described as "A Freeze and Eat Treat™ made up of puffy popcorn kernels coated in caramel and ice cream/birthday cake flavor; topped with sprinkles".[16]

Personal life

Klein's wife, Rebecca, who died in 2020, worked with him in their confectionery development business, Can You Imagine That Confections Inc.; his daughter, Roxanne, who studied business at the University of La Verne, also contributes to the business, such as coming up with the concept of 'Sandy Candy', which by October 2011 had made $1 million.[3][17][18] The company operates from a factory in California.[17][19][20]

References
  1. Rogers, John (October 30, 2011). "David Klein, Former Mr. Jelly Belly, Looks For A Comeback". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  2. "Former Mr. Jelly Belly Recalls Decision to Sell Name, Family Says 'It Caused a Lot of Pain'". Hollywood Reporter. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  3. "Sweet Inspiration". Los Angeles Times. 18 January 2000.
  4. Pendleton, Jennifer (14 September 1999). "Brother and Sister Determined to Keep Good Company". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  5. "Leaf Appoints Garvey Nut & Candy Distributor for Initial Products Launch". CSP Daily News. January 7, 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. "Not-so-sweet story of original 'Mr. Jelly Belly'". Daily Republic. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  7. Knoll, Corina (June 22, 2011). "Jelly Belly creator sour over lost legacy but sees sweet future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  8. "Q & A With Jelly Belly Inventor David Klein: On Getting His Jelly Belly Due, His New Line of Jelly Beans + The Astro Pop Connection". LA Weekly. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  9. "David's Signature Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans Sales Outpace Supply". PRWeb. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. Saab, Elizabeth (22 November 2016). "Watch as we eat a jelly bean as hot as a spoonful of Tabasco". Fox News. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  11. "Former Mr. Jelly Belly tries for sweet comeback". NBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  12. Hutsell, Melissa (8 March 2019). "Creator of Jelly Belly Has Developed CBD Jelly Beans". Cannabis Aficionado. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  13. Groth, Aimee. "Meet The Man Who Invented Jelly Bellys And Then Sold The Rights For A Song". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  14. Knoll, Corina (22 June 2011). "Jelly Belly creator sour over lost legacy but sees sweet future". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  15. "Help the Candyman make his comeback!!". Kickstarter.
  16. "Polar Popcorn™ - from the Creator of Jelly Belly". Kickstarter.
  17. "Company & Contact". Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  18. "Nifty Candy is a sweet success for Roxy and David Klein - Oct. 19, 2011". CNNMoney.
  19. Alyson Shontell (22 October 2010). "The Trials And Tribulations Of The Real Candy Man, The Inventor Of Jelly Bellies". Business Insider.
  20. "Former Mr. Jelly Belly Hopes To Regain Candy Crown". Manufacturing.net. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
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