Taste Radio

A pioneer of premium candy, Jelly Belly made its name by infusing jelly beans with innovative and oddball flavors, like buttered popcorn, juicy pear, strawberry cheesecake and toasted marshmallow. Driven by consumer demand for new and interesting flavor experiences, the brand has consistently pushed the envelope with product development, an innovation strategy that’s resulted in plenty of wins, along with a few howlers.  However, in an interview included in this episode Jelly Belly president/CEO Lisa Rowland explained her belief that “you never know when our failures are going to be something that may turn into one of our greatest successes.” As an example, Rowland recounted how one disastrous flavor (cheese was involved) that never made it to market turned out to be quite useful down the line. Also within our interview, Brasher explained how Jelly Belly’s focus on creating unique experiences for its consumers has contributed to its evolution into an iconic brand. She also discussed the impact of  the brand’s