Category Archives: Awards/Recognition

Beverage Company Wins Texas Family Business of the Year

Son Beverage Company, a San Antonio family owned business, was
recognized as 2016 Texas Family Business of the Year in the Small Business Category by Baylor University’s Institute for Family Business (IFB).

The IFB awards program – now in its 27th year – recognizes outstanding firms whose families demonstrate a commitment to each other, to business continuity and to the needs of their employees, community and industry, and Son Beverage was among them this year.

Son Beverage Co. manufactures Jell-Craft products, which originated in San Antonio in 1945. Walter Oertling, a chemist major, developed a punch concentrate in his chemistry class, which started the line of Jell-Craft Products. This punch concentrate has been sold on retail shelves since 1947 under the name PicNic Punch.

Mary Son is the widow of the founder’s son, Robert Oertling. Son says, “Even though we are not the original family members working in the family business, we like to say that our company is family owned and operated for over 70 years, and we are just a different branch of the family. My daughter who currently handles our marketing is the 3^rd generation of Oertlings to be at the company.”

Mary and Tim Son at the awards banquet with their son, John, and one of their employees.

“My son started working here shortly after his sister did and is in charge of operations. Now that both my son and daughter are here, I feel that with their partnership with our team, the Jell-Craft line will continue to grow and remain a family business for years to come. “

About Jell-Craft Products

The Jell-Craft brand was created by Walter Oertling, owner of Blue Bonnet Potato Chip Company in 1945. The

company produced potato chips under the label of Carmen’s Potato Chips until the 1970’s in addition to beverage bases and snow cone syrups. Tim and Mary Son purchased the company in 1997, renaming it Son Beverage Company since they no longer manufactured potato chips. Mary is the daughter-in-law of the founder and widow of Robert (Bobby) Oertling, president of Blue Bonnet Potato Chip Co. from 1978-1989.Tim and Mary Son have kept the Jell-Craft line of products and have also expanded the company to offer private labeling and co-packing services for many well-known restaurants and grocery chains throughout Texas.

Baylor Honors Texas Family Businesses for Commitment to Community, Industry, and Employees

Institute for Family Business celebrates Texas Family Businesses

WACO, Texas (Oct. 27, 2015) –The Institute for Family Business at Baylor University will honor the 2015 Texas Family Business of the Year Award winners and finalists at an awards banquet on November 19th at the  Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation.

The awards program – now in its 26^th year – recognizes outstanding family firms who demonstrate a commitment to serve their community, industry and employees.

“The Institute for Family Business and Baylor University is privileged to honor great family businesses for the 26th consecutive year,” said William J.  Worthington, director of the Institute for Family Business within the Hankamer School of Business. “The applicant pool provided stunning examples of the impact that firm, family, and faith can have on individuals, businesses, and the communities they serve.”

This year’s winners are:

• Small Family Business of the Year – Renfro Foods, Inc. – Fort Worth
• Medium Family Business of the Year – The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare Facilities – Georgetown
• Large Family Business of the Year – Georgetown Mortgage – Georgetown
• Community Commitment Award –Tranum Auto Group – Temple
• Family Values Award – Ben Franklin Apothecary – Duncanville
• Fastest Growing Award – Ready Seal, Inc. – Lewisville
• Well-Managed Award – Groves Equipment Rental Co., Inc. – Groves
• Founders Award – Freddy’s Auto Glass & Mirror, Inc. – Waco
• Heritage Award – Wylie Flower & Gift – Wylie
• Stewardship Award – High Point Travel Inc. – Dallas
• Young/New Business – Focus Behavioral Associates – Robinson

Finalists for the 2016 awards are:

• Amaral Tellawi, PLLC – Houston
• Financial Management Professionals, Inc. – Austin
• Home Abstract and Title Company – Woodway
• Houston Texas Dental Spa – Houston
• Lewis Public Relations, A Three Box Inc. Company – Dallas
• Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – San Antonio
• Son Beverage Company manufacturer of Jell-Craft Products– San Antonio

The Finalists include those companies that ranked so well, they impressed the panel of judges and scored within a fraction of the actual award winners.

Through the Texas Family Business of the Year Awards and other programs such as the Family Business Fall Forum and the Family Business Spring Symposium, the Institute for Family Business continues to fulfill its mission to develop and disseminate information relevant to the health and continuity of family businesses.  Visit www.Baylor.edu/business/txfamily/ for more information.

ABOUT BAYLOR

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business provides a rigorous academic experience, consisting of classroom and hands-on learning, guided by Christian commitment and a global perspective. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the school offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/BaylorBusiness.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY BUSINESS

The Institute for Family Business (IFB) is part of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University.  The IFB’s mission is to promote the tenets of Firm-Family-Faith on a global scale through transformational education, rigorous scholarship and Christian engagement between family owned businesses and Baylor University. Visit www.baylor.edu/business/familybusiness/ for more information.