In a display of nostalgic appeal and local pride, Jolly Good Soda secured the title of the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin for the year 2024. The announcement was made by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and Johnson Financial Group at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce's Business Day event in Madison. As FOX6 reported, the soda brand, produced by Krier Foods in Random Lake, stood out among more than 130 nominated products from across the state. With its bold flavors and eye-catching cans, Jolly Good draws from a range that includes the familiar Root Beer to the more unique Sour Pow’r and Blue Raspberry variants.
Across a competitive field, the contest engaged public interest to badly determine the state's most admired manufacturing creation through a process of votes and a Manufacturing Madness bracket-style tournament. According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, around 150,000 votes were cast in the final tally. The bracket saw Jolly Good outpace a variety of contenders, including an ice fishing detector, military medals and insignia, and a John Deere riding mower in the final round.
The victory of Jolly Good Soda is more than a mere corporate win; it signifies a statewide endorsement of a company deeply rooted in Wisconsin's manufacturing landscape. Zach Malin, Krier Foods’ Sr. Vice President of Business Development, expressed gratitude for the recognition. "The employees who help produce Jolly Good everyday are extremely proud of the company’s family heritage, Wisconsin ties, and being able to put a smile on our friends, families, and neighbors," Malin said in a statement obtained by WKOW News. "Thank you to all of the other iconic Wisconsin brands for participating, and thank you to everybody who voted for Jolly Good!"
This accolade underlines the essential role manufacturing plays within Wisconsin, a sector that employs almost 500,000 individuals and significantly contributes to the state’s economy. "Our manufacturers create jobs, invest in their communities, and support their workforce. The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest showcases the depth and strength of manufacturing, including the diversity of products made right here in our backyard that are used all over the world," said Kurt Bauer, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President and CEO, according to Green Bay Press Gazette. This is not the first time Jolly Good has come close to clinching the title; the brand reached the top 8 in years past but was edged out by other formidable Wisconsin-made products.
The award also promotes Manufacturing Month, an October designation made to celebrate and highlight the extensive opportunities available within the manufacturing sector in Wisconsin. This year's handoff of the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin trophy, produced by EK Machine and EFCO Finishing Corporation—two Wisconsin manufacturers—marks a concerted effort to elevate the profile of the state's manufacturing prowess.
