Marich Confectionery

Marich Confectionery was founded in 1983 by Marinus van Dam, creator of the Jelly Belly. At age 15, with his father in a concentration camp for Dutch resistance during World War II, Marinus started to work as a janitor in a candy factory in Rotterdam to help support his family. Management took note of his interest, abilities and skills, and sent him to a Dutch candy technology school where he proceeded to graduate with several degrees. He immigrated to the United States in 1957. Once in the United States, he spent most of his early career working for Herman Goelitz, Inc., where he invented a number of signature candies, including the Jelly Belly.