Update: Turns out, according to a statement the company released on its Facebook page, while the Bonne Bell and Lip Smacker brands have been sold, they will still be available for purchase in the U.S. May the '90s kid in you rejoice.
Are you sitting down? Good. Are you clutching your trusty Bonne Bell Cotton Candy Lip Smacker? Put it down, because this news is so upsetting you might accidentally snap it in half, which, as you'll soon see, is something you can't afford to do. Cleveland.com is reporting that Bonne Bell Co. is shutting down its operations in Ohio and laying off all 91 employees. The company was founded in 1927 and launched the first range of flavored lip gloss, Lip Smacker, in 1973. At this time, it's hard to say what will become of the Dr Pepper Lip Smackers you've been coating your lips with since your early teens. Crain's Cleveland Business reports that the Bonne Bell and Lip Smacker businesses have been sold to Markwins International Corp., which also owns Wet n Wild. Bonne Bell Co., meanwhile, will be renamed Bell Family Brands. It still owns the Formula 10.0.6 skincare brand as well as Aspire Brands, which will continue to distribute Lip Smackers in Europe, Australia, and Asia. "Markwins has a proven track record of creating excitement and bringing innovation to the cosmetic category," Jess Bell, Jr., founder of Aspire Brands, told Cleveland.com. "They will bring the same excitement and innovation to the Lip Smacker and Bonne Bell brands. I am excited about the future of the Lip Smacker and Bonne Bell brands under Markwins ownership." We can only hope this means our favorite nostalgia products will remain untouched. We're still struggling to cope with the loss of Delia's, after all. To the 91 employees sadly affected by the plant's closure: Thanks for making us look and feel good for so long.
Are you sitting down? Good. Are you clutching your trusty Bonne Bell Cotton Candy Lip Smacker? Put it down, because this news is so upsetting you might accidentally snap it in half, which, as you'll soon see, is something you can't afford to do. Cleveland.com is reporting that Bonne Bell Co. is shutting down its operations in Ohio and laying off all 91 employees. The company was founded in 1927 and launched the first range of flavored lip gloss, Lip Smacker, in 1973. At this time, it's hard to say what will become of the Dr Pepper Lip Smackers you've been coating your lips with since your early teens. Crain's Cleveland Business reports that the Bonne Bell and Lip Smacker businesses have been sold to Markwins International Corp., which also owns Wet n Wild. Bonne Bell Co., meanwhile, will be renamed Bell Family Brands. It still owns the Formula 10.0.6 skincare brand as well as Aspire Brands, which will continue to distribute Lip Smackers in Europe, Australia, and Asia. "Markwins has a proven track record of creating excitement and bringing innovation to the cosmetic category," Jess Bell, Jr., founder of Aspire Brands, told Cleveland.com. "They will bring the same excitement and innovation to the Lip Smacker and Bonne Bell brands. I am excited about the future of the Lip Smacker and Bonne Bell brands under Markwins ownership." We can only hope this means our favorite nostalgia products will remain untouched. We're still struggling to cope with the loss of Delia's, after all. To the 91 employees sadly affected by the plant's closure: Thanks for making us look and feel good for so long.