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N o v e m b e r 2 0 17 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m
P H O T O G R A P H S B Y B R YA N A S C H E N B R E N N E R MADE IN THE NEW NORTH
An
effervescent
return
F O R M A N Y W I S C O N S I N I T E S , T H E W O R D S
"Jolly Good" conjure happy memories of youth and the bubbly
flavors of a fruity soda.
It's no longer just a memory. Jolly Good soda, which disappeared
from store shelves in Wisconsin around 2006, is making a comeback
in Northeast Wisconsin and the state. Reintroduced by Krier Foods
Inc. of Random Lake in 2016, the regional soda brand has found
new life with a generation of consumers looking for local and
handcraed products.
"As cra became trendy, another bottler approached us about
buying the recipe and the brand," says John Rassel, Krier Foods
president and fih-generation owner. "We figured if there was that
much interest, maybe it was time to bring it back and decided we
would do it ourselves."
e product had originally been discontinued amid competitive
pressures from the major soda brands. Rassel decided to bring the
product back into full-line production, introducing six flavors and
the corresponding diet products.
e marketing for Jolly Good has been strictly grassroots,
using social media and nostalgia to grow demand. e
company is exploring new flavors and expanded distribution
heading into 2018.
— Sean Johnson
