Just Born

Just Born, Inc. is an American family-owned confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company makes and markets a portfolio of candy brands that includes Peeps marshmallow confections, Mike and Ike fruit-flavored chewy candies, Hot Tamales cinnamon candies, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, and Teenee Beanee jelly beans. Its products are sold primarily in the United States, with the business historically built around mass-market candy, seasonal confectionery, and impulse-oriented products. The company traces its identity to Sam Born, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1909. Born became associated with confectionery machinery and manufacturing innovation. In 1916, he received recognition in San Francisco for inventing the Born Sucker Machine, which mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops. In 1917, he opened a retail candy store in Brooklyn, New York. The store displayed freshly made candy under the sign “Just Born,” a phrase that became the basis for the company name and early branding. Born was also credited with innovations involving chocolate sprinkles, commonly called jimmies, and the hard coating used on ice-cream bars. Born established a manufacturing company in New York City in 1923. His brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, joined the business and helped with sales and marketing. In 1932, the company moved its operations to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, acquiring a large former printing-plant building. The Bethlehem facility became a long-term base for manufacturing and helped establish the company as a regional candy producer with national ambitions. Sam Born's son Bob joined the company in 1945 and later served as its president for more than three decades. One of Bob Born's most consequential contributions was helping mechanize the production of Peeps. Mechanization transformed a labor-intensive seasonal product into a high-volume candy line and enabled Just Born to become a major producer of seasonal marshmallow confectionery in the United States. Peeps subsequently expanded beyond its original Easter association into broader seasonal and year-round marketing, while remaining the company's most recognizable brand. Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company in 1953. Rodda brought jelly beans and Peeps, then a seasonal Easter marshmallow product, into the company's portfolio. Just Born later automated Peeps manufacturing and broadened its distribution and advertising. In 2003, the company acquired Goldenberg Candy Company and retained its Philadelphia factory. The Goldenberg acquisition added Peanut Chews, a long-established regional candy, to Just Born's brands. The product was initially marketed without the Goldenberg name, but the company later restored the Goldenberg's identity. The company has remained privately held and family controlled rather than becoming a publicly traded confectionery group. Its positioning combines heritage, recognizable American candy brands, seasonal relevance, and high-volume packaged confectionery. A long-used advertising line is “a great candy isn't made ... it's Just Born,” which connects the corporate name with the company's manufacturing heritage. The company was described as the tenth-largest candy company in the United States in 2013, although no current ranking is stated here. Just Born's present identity remains centered on established candy brands and domestic manufacturing and distribution.

Just Born's history begins with Sam Born, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States in December 1909. Born developed an early reputation for practical confectionery innovation. In 1916, while in San Francisco, he was recognized for inventing the Born Sucker Machine, which inserted sticks into lollipops mechanically. The invention reflected the company's later emphasis on manufacturing processes that could increase candy output while preserving consistent form. In 1917, Born opened a small candy retail store in Brooklyn, New York. The shop displayed candy made on a daily basis and used the phrase “Just Born” to emphasize freshness. The name eventually became the identity of the manufacturing company. Born was also associated with the development of chocolate sprinkles, known in the United States as jimmies, and with the hard coating used on ice-cream bars. Born established his own manufacturing operation in New York City in 1923. His brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, joined the enterprise and supported its sales and marketing activities. In 1932, the partners moved the business to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They acquired a four-story building of approximately 224,396 square feet that had been constructed in 1920 and had previously been used by a printing company that became bankrupt. The site provided a substantial manufacturing base and remains closely associated with the company's corporate history. Sam Born's son Bob joined Just Born in 1945. He later became president and held that position for more than 30 years. Bob Born worked with a two-person team to mechanize the forming of Peeps, which had previously been made through a more labor-intensive process. The change permitted much larger production volumes and helped Just Born become a leading American producer of seasonal marshmallow candy. Bob Born died in 2023 at the age of 98. A major portfolio expansion occurred in 1953, when Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Rodda produced jelly beans and made Peeps, then primarily an Easter product. After the acquisition, Just Born mechanized Peeps production and expanded its advertising and distribution so that the product could be promoted beyond a narrowly seasonal role. Peeps became the company's best-known product and developed into a broad family of shapes, colors, and seasonal variations. The company later developed a broader portfolio of candy brands, including Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales, and Teenee Beanee jelly beans. In 2003, Just Born acquired Goldenberg Candy Company and retained its Philadelphia factory. The transaction brought Goldenberg's Peanut Chews into the Just Born portfolio. Just Born initially removed the Goldenberg reference from the product's branding, but later restored it, reflecting the value of the legacy name and its connection with the Philadelphia market. Just Born has continued as a privately held, family-owned confectionery company. Its business model is based on manufacturing and marketing branded packaged candy rather than operating as a diversified public food conglomerate. The company serves the United States market through product lines that combine everyday candy with strong seasonal demand. Its public identity is particularly tied to Peeps, while Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales, Peanut Chews, and Teenee Beanee extend its presence across chewy, spicy, nut-based, and jelly-bean categories. Labor relations became a significant public issue in 2016. Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 6 members rejected a contract offer and voted to strike. The disagreement included Just Born's proposed treatment of future employees under a multi-employer pension arrangement. The reported dispute involved a potential withdrawal payment of about $60 million, and the company pursued litigation concerning that obligation. Most workers returned to their jobs later that month, although the referenced account did not identify a final resolution. Across its history, Just Born has combined family ownership, manufacturing automation, acquired brands, and nostalgic consumer positioning. The company slogan “a great candy isn't made ... it's Just Born” summarizes the brand's emphasis on production heritage. Its most important historical turning points were the move to Bethlehem, the Rodda acquisition and mechanization of Peeps, and the Goldenberg acquisition, all of which shaped the company's current confectionery portfolio.

• 2023

  Bob Born dies

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Born died at age 98 on January 29, 2023, after a long career with Just Born and a major role in mechanizing Peeps production.

• 2016

  Labor strike and pension dispute

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Union members voted to strike during a contract dispute involving proposed changes for future employees and a multi-employer pension fund.

• 2003

  Goldenberg Candy Company acquired

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  The company purchased Goldenberg Candy Company and retained its Philadelphia factory, adding Peanut Chews to its brand portfolio.

• 1953

  Rodda Candy Company acquired

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company, adding jelly beans and the Peeps marshmallow confection to its portfolio.

• 1945

  Bob Born joins the company

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Sam Born's son Bob joined Just Born and later became its president for more than three decades.

• 1932

  Operations move to Bethlehem

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  The company relocated its operations to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and acquired a large former printing-plant building for manufacturing.

• 1923

  Manufacturing company established

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Sam Born established a confectionery manufacturing company in New York City, with Irv and Jack Shaffer joining the business.

• 1917

  Brooklyn candy store opens

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Born opened a Brooklyn retail store displaying freshly made candy under the phrase “Just Born,” which became the company's name.

• 1916

  Born Sucker Machine recognized

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Sam Born was recognized in San Francisco for inventing a machine that mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops.

• 1909

  Sam Born arrives in the United States

  [1]Just Bornen.wikipedia.org

  Russian-Jewish immigrant Sam Born arrived in the United States in December 1909, preceding his later career in candy manufacturing and machinery.

A family-owned American confectionery manufacturer built around nostalgic, mass-market, and seasonal candy brands, with particular strength in marshmallow products and established chewy-candy lines.

• Marshmallow confectionery

  Peeps

  Peeps are molded marshmallow candies covered with colored sugar. Originally associated primarily with Easter, the line was acquired through Rodda Candy Company in 1953 and later mechanized by Just Born. Automation enabled high-volume manufacturing and supported expansion into additional seasonal and year-round forms, colors, and marketing programs.

• Chewy candy

  Mike and Ike

  Mike and Ike is a Just Born chewy candy line known for fruit-flavored pieces. It is one of the company's principal non-seasonal brands and extends Just Born's portfolio into colorful, packaged, impulse-oriented candy sold through mass retail and convenience channels.

• Cinnamon candy

  Hot Tamales

  Hot Tamales is a cinnamon-flavored chewy candy brand in Just Born's portfolio. Its spicy flavor profile differentiates it from the company's fruit-flavored and marshmallow products and gives Just Born a prominent presence in the cinnamon-candy segment.

• Peanut candy

  Goldenberg's Peanut Chews

  Goldenberg's Peanut Chews originated with the Goldenberg Candy Company, acquired by Just Born in 2003. The candy combines peanuts with a confectionery coating and has longstanding Philadelphia-area associations. Just Born initially marketed it without the Goldenberg name before restoring the heritage branding.

• Jelly beans

  Teenee Beanee

  Teenee Beanee is Just Born's jelly-bean brand. It represents the company's presence in a traditional sugar-candy category that entered the business's historical portfolio through its acquisition of Rodda Candy Company.

• Just Born freshness and manufacturing identity campaign

  United States

  The company has used the slogan “a great candy isn't made ... it's Just Born” to link product quality and candy-making heritage to the corporate name.

  Outcome. The slogan became an enduring expression of the company's manufacturing-oriented brand identity.

  Source
• Peeps year-round marketing

  United States

  After acquiring Rodda and mechanizing Peeps production, Just Born broadened advertising and distribution beyond the product's original Easter focus.

  Outcome. Peeps developed from a seasonal marshmallow candy into the company's best-known broader brand platform.

  Source

• 2016

  Contest pension withdrawal liabilityOther

  Background

  A labor dispute centered partly on the proposed withdrawal of future employees from a multi-employer pension fund and the associated withdrawal liability.

  Action taken

  Just Born pursued court action to avoid paying the reported withdrawal fee, while union members voted to strike over the contract dispute.

  Aftermath

  Most workers returned on September 30, 2016, but the referenced material does not state a final legal or contractual resolution.

  Reported pension withdrawal liability. (2016)

  Source

• 2003

  Acquire Goldenberg Candy CompanyM&A

  Background

  Goldenberg Candy Company brought a recognized Philadelphia confectionery heritage and Peanut Chews into the transaction.

  Action taken

  Just Born purchased Goldenberg Candy Company and retained its Philadelphia factory.

  Aftermath

  Peanut Chews became part of Just Born's national confectionery portfolio. The Goldenberg name was initially removed from the product branding and later restored.

  Source

• 1953

  Acquire Rodda Candy CompanyM&A

  Background

  Rodda produced jelly beans and the seasonal marshmallow candy that became associated with Peeps.

  Action taken

  Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company and incorporated its products into the company portfolio.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition gave Just Born the Peeps brand and jelly-bean capabilities; subsequent mechanization increased Peeps production capacity.

  Source

1. 1Just Bornen.wikipedia.org