Jolly Good Soda is coming to a store near you!
John Rassel, President of Krier Foods- the Random Lake company behind the revival, exclusively tells Wisconsin’s Morning News that the soda will hit shelves a week from Wednesday.
“I’m happy to announce we are going to partner up with a store that was paramount in getting Jolly Good launched back in the 90s. I’m happy to report that Piggly Wiggly is going to take on Jolly Good in all 100 of their Wisconsin stores.”
Flavors offered will include grape, orange, cherry, sour power, and cream. And of course, you’ll still be able to make your own 24-pack, just like before.
“The mixing and the matching will definitely be an option,” says Rassel.
Before the company stopped production of Jolly Good nearly a decade ago, nearly 50 flavors were available. Rassel says they’re working on getting a few more of those to store shelves.
“I don’t know about all 50 of them, but as we speak we’re looking at lower calorie alternatives, the diet side of the brand, and then also a few more of the regular flavors.”
In the interim, Jolly Good soda is only available in the Random Lake area. Rassel admits the comeback was unexpected.
“It all began when we were approached by somebody who offered to buy the name from us,” he says. “We currently weren’t producing any Jolly Good. That sparked us to do a marketing experiment that we just did locally here. It turned out great.”
“We then asked loyal supporters to tell us what flavor they would like us to produce if we did a one-time production, which we did- we produced cream soda. And then last year around this time, the local fire department asked us to produce a few more flavors that they would distribute at their picnic. After their picnic, we went live with a few local distributors here in Random Lake, and it has us to where we are today- ready to roll out five flavors statewide.”
For the full conversation with Rassel on Wisconsin’s Morning News, click in the Soundcloud player above.
