Some say it’s all about the Benjamins. To us, it’s also about the Jasons, Kylees, Olgas, and Isabels. While a lot of companies talk about their people, we take it a step further by working hard to support our people at work and at home. We pride ourselves on creating a company culture that encourages personal growth for our employees. In addition, outside of our walls, we work just as hard to support the community and causes we care about. Like giving back to lesser-known charities such as the American Childhood Cancer Organization and National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, with a focus on creating programs that make a difference in people's lives right here in our own backyard.
Our Story
Pull up a seat. Grab something sweet. We’ve got a story to tell.
Way back in 1926, we introduced our very first product: a clever and convenient gelatin dessert mix. The name Jel Sert was born from combining the words "jelly" and "dessert" (see what we did there?), and it's been our signature ever since! It was made by none other than Aunt Wick and Grandpa Charles, the founders of our company and the OGs of the drink and dessert mix game. Since those days, we’ve stayed true to our roots of making delicious and high-quality drink mixes, dessert mixes, and frozen novelties. We’ve also expanded our palate with all kinds of flavorful, convenient, and lifestyle-oriented new products. Just like Aunt Wick and Charles before us, getting clever and trying something new has always been part of our family and our company’s DNA.
Who We are
One big family.
And we mean really big.
You see those fancy portraits of Aunt Wick and Grandpa Charles? Not only did they start The Jel Sert Company, but they also passed it down from one generation to the next to keep it in the family. Today, we’re still a family-owned and operated business that just so happens to have about 1000 extended family members who work alongside us and keep the tradition alive every day.
What we Make
We’ve got every corner of your kitchen covered.
If you take a look inside your fridge, your freezer, or your pantry, there’s a darn good chance there’s a product made by Jel Sert just waiting to be enjoyed. Freezables, drink mixes, and dessert mixes are the name of our game and it’s been that way for nearly 100 years. While our commitment to quality hasn’t changed a lick in that time, we’ve spent a lot of time stepping up our innovation and variety game. We’re talking on-the-go packages, lower-calorie options, and clean-label choices. That’s just the beginning because there are a whole lot more new and exciting brands and products to come.
History
What a long, sweet trip it’s been.
1926
Our story and our name begin in 1926 after creating something we called “Jel Sert” a gelatin dessert mix named by combining the words “jelly” and “dessert.” Pretty clever for a couple of grandparents!
1929
Along with big bands, powdered drink mixes were kind of a big deal in the 1920s, and with their convenience and tasty flavor, it made total sense. By the end of the decade, we introduced our take on the trend with the Flavor-Aid line of drink mixes.
1963
The success of Flavor-Aid in the 1950s led to our acquisition of the Pop-Ice Company in 1963. Pop-Ice was a small company producing a unique freeze-at-home pop, but we knew this would be a big and exciting new product category in the years to come.
1969
Turns out, people really loved frozen pops, so we introduced the brand Fla-Vor-Ice in 1969 as a frozen sibling to Flavor-Aid and it quickly became the leading freezer pop in the United States.
1991
Fast-forward to the 90s, when people had a thirst for delicious and convenient juice drinks. We launched MONDO Fruit Squeezers in 1991 and it didn’t take long to become a well-known brand in the juice drink category.
1996
The iconic Otter Pops brand was acquired in 1996 and soon became the strongest freezer pop brand on the West Coast. The famous otter characters associated with its ten zippy flavors are adored by fans of all ages, including us.
2000
As we headed into the new millennium, we brought the Wyler's brand with us. Wyler's Light, a brand extension introduced in 2000, is renowned for its great-tasting, low-calorie, and sugar-free products everyone can enjoy.
2000
We also brought the classic Royal and My*T*Fine brands into the new millennium. The Royal brand, which dates back to 1925, includes popular varieties of puddings, gelatins, and flan. My*T*Fine, a premium cook-and-serve pudding brand, has been a staple in kitchens throughout America since 1918.
2003
We expanded our capabilities into licensing by partnering with Kellogg's® to make Keebler Fudge Shoppe Chocolate Freezer Bars, followed by launching Hawaiian Punch® powders and freezer bars for the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group®. Since 2003, licensing has become a big part of our business.
2006
In the middle of the decade, we launched Wyler's Light Singles To Go! in a single-serve stick-pack format to accommodate the growing need for consumer convenience. Turns out, a lot of people really loved the convenience.
2007
Looking to expand our offerings, we acquired the licensing rights to the Kool Pops brand from Kraft Foods. To this day, the brand maintains its nostalgic brand heritage and loyal consumer following.
2010
We’ve always been about giving back and in 2010 we did it big with the Take A Pop Share A Smile Launch. We teamed up with the American Childhood Cancer Organization to create a program that donates freezers filled with unlimited freezer pops to childhood cancer treatment centers across the country.
2012
We added SUPER C to our portfolio, a vitamin and mineral-boosted powdered drink mix with all kinds of functional benefits, including Vitamin C and antioxidants.
2018
Our products have always had the power to bring people together. And as part of our effort to support those who protect and serve our communities, we created Freezer Pops From Cops. This program helps law enforcement officers build relationships and trust between their department and the community.
2019
As the era of energy drinks continued to grow in popularity, we got in on the action by introducing Pure Kick, an innovative product that reinvigorated the powdered drink mix category with great taste, functional benefits, and zero sugar.
2019
Originally introduced in 1993 by PepsiCo as a ready-to-drink product, we acquired and reimagined All Sport as a premium brand of powdered drink mixes and freezer bars sold today in the Retail and Industrial trade channels.
2020
The iconic Otter Pops brand turns 50 and we go big celebrating five decades of famous flavor, fun, and smiles the brand has given us. Here’s to 50 more iconic years!
