The story of the Jolly Rancher Company
is a true Colorado success story. Founded by 20th
century pioneers, Bill and Dorothy Harmsen, the
company's success can be traced to hard work, innovative
ideas, loyalty, and family.
Bill
Dorothy
The
first store opened in Golden at the base of the arch on
the east side of Washington Avenue in 1949. High quality
chocolates and the latest treat, soft-serve ice cream,
were the first products dispensed at the Jolly Rancher.
In 1951 the company moved to Wheat Ridge to accommodate
the ever increasing popularity of the Jolly Rancher
line.
Golden Store
Wheat Ridge Store
By the time the Golden store closed, the "hot cinnamon
taffy" pioneered by the Jolly Rancher was the product in
demand. Consumer clamored for the product now known as
"Fire Stix."
In 1966 the company was sold to Beatrice
Foods Company. Bill Harmsen retired as President of the
Jolly Rancher Company in 1977 and son, Robert Harmsen,
became General Manager.
In 1983, the company was sold to Huhtamaki Oy of Finland
which created Leaf Inc. of Denver. After Bob's
retirement from Jolly Rancher, his son, John, held the
reins for several years. In 1997, the company was
acquired by the Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery
Corporation.
The present line of Jolly Rancher consists of a hard
candy line featuring 24 fruit flavors plus Fire. They
make the Stix, junior stix called “ranchers,” twist
wrapped kisses, and a 10-piece packet called a “Ranch
Pack.”
The
plant is still located in Wheat Ridge on 52nd and Ward
Road, it is 108,000 square feet. You cannot tour the
plant, but you can visit their candy store. They
employee 320 people on 3 shifts, 5 days per week. The
plant produces about 1 million pounds of candy per week.
Supplies for the candy: beet sugar from Colorado, corn
syrup from Iowa.
Throughout all the changes the Jolly
Rancher Company has maintained its high quality, created
innovative candy making technologies, and retained the
loyalty of employees and customers!
The exhibit covers the history of Jolly
Rancher from its founding in Golden until it was
purchased by Hershey Foods, Inc in 1997. Artifacts
include chocolate molds from the early days, advertising
materials, candy boxes, clothing, saddles, and
photographs, among other things. All of the artifacts
were loaned by Bob Harmsen and the Harmsen family, and
Hershey Candy & Confectionery Corporation.
Special Thanks To:
Bill & Dorothy Harmsen
...and more thanks to:
Bob
Harmsen
John Harmsen
Ron Todd, Materials Manager, Jolly Rancher Company
The Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery Corporation
Leroy Allen
More photos of items from the
exhibit:
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Woolly vest and chaps, given to Bill
Harmsen as a birthday gift
and
Jolly Rancher rodeo outfit
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Jolly Rancher Sheriff's shirt, rodeo
belt, Bill Harmsen's chaps
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Jolly Rancher enters the British market
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Changing Box Designs
and
Candy Packaging
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Today's Jolly Ranchers
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More Photos from the Jolly Rancher Collection:
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Jolly Rancher Wagon at the National
Western Stock Show
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Fine Hand Dipped Chocolates the Company
Made Until 1966
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Interiors of Two of the Franchise Stores
that Sold Soft-Serve Ice Cream and Fine Hand-Dipped
Chocolates
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