ICEE history

By 1967, he was a partner in a metalworking business housed in a garage beneath a pool hall in Philadelphia.

Shreiber and his partner sold the business in 1970, with Shreiber taking about a $60,000 share of the profits.

By 1972, Shreiber had distributors in Philadelphia and Shrewbury, New Jersey.

Its sales had slipped by half to £13 million from its peak since the brand's U.K. introduction in 1977.

In 1986 Shreiber made frozen soft pretzels available to consumers through their local supermarkets.

J & J Snack Foods purchased The Icee Company in 1987.

In 1988, the ICEE company was purchased by J&J Snack Foods.

By 1989, J & J Snack Foods controlled 70 percent of the soft pretzel market and enjoyed a 24 percent increase in sales and earnings over the previous five years.

PepsiCo had attempted to introduce the Cheetos brand in the United Kingdom through an unsuccessful $8 million launch in 1990.

The stock offering earned $29 million, which J & J Snack Foods invested in dispensing machines for the frozen beverage. "Having built a successful pretzel business from scrap, can he repeat the trick in frozen drinks?" asked Christopher Palmeri in Forbes in 1991. "Chances are he can."

He had worked for Pedigree Petfoods before joining Walkers in 1992.

Foil packaging was brought out for Quavers, a brand acquired via Smiths, in 1993.

Private label still accounted for just 3.5 percent of profits in 1994, noted Marketing.

So in 1995, J & J Snack Foods offered a subsidiary--Western Syrup Company--for sale.

J & J Snack Foods also acquired a manufacturer and distributor of Italian ices and frozen desserts in 1996.

In January 1997, the company purchased Chicago-based Mama Tish's International Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of frozen juice products such as Italian ices and sorbets.

Martin Glenn was named president and CEO of Walkers in September 1998.

In 1999, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist released “Brainfreeze,” a strange project that’s been described as “a one-hour throwdown comprised largely of rare funk and soul 45s.” You can listen to the whole record here, and a sample of “Dance the Slurp” at the 35 min mark forms its centerpiece.

Walkers entered the £120 million Irish snack market in 2000.

In 2001, Walkers added a pickled onion flavor to its Monster Munch brand geared for children.

Even more exciting developments were around the bend in the form of the new Sensations sub-brand launched in May 2002.

By the end of 2003, reported Food Manufacture, Sensations alone were a £60 million business.