About Us
Aladdin has been creating lifestyle products for people just like you since 1908. From the character lunch boxes you remember as a kid, to the sleek mug you use to tote your morning coffee, we’re committed to creating unique food and beverage solutions that fit your lifestyle. Products that are sustainable, stylish, and above all, functional. Products to love.
History
The lunchbox you toted in elementary school was very likely an Aladdin lunchbox. From Hopalong Cassidy to Superman, Mickey Mouse, and The Jetsons, Aladdin pioneered image licensing back in the 50s and became a leader in the lunchbox industry from then on. So, how did we get from character lunchboxes to recycling plastic into our Sustain mugs and water bottles? Read on to find out.
Our early years
Believe it or not, Aladdin’s beginnings trace back to lamps…..
It all started in 1908, when Victor Samuel Johnson Sr, a soap salesman, in Chicago,
Ill, became interested in kerosene mantle burners. Dissatisfied with the available
kerosene lamps of the time, Johnson began selling and dealing US made mantle lamps.
He incorporated his lamp sales business and called the company the Mantle Lamp Company
of America. In 1912 the company began manufacturing mantle lamps that gave off a steady
white light without smoke and called these lamps “Aladdin lamps,” after the magical
lamp and wish-granting genie in the popular children’s story. The Aladdin name was born.
In 1917, Johnson diversified the company’s offerings and began producing insulated cooking
dishes, known at the time as Aladdin Thermalware jars. These Thermalware jars were the
company’s first venture into heat and cold retaining dishes and are early cousins of the
products we use today. In 1919, Johnson moved these jars into a new subsidiary he called
Aladdin Industries. This subsidiary offered thermalware jars and vacuum ware and
successfully sold and manufactured these products from 1919-1943.
In 1943, Victor S. Johnson Sr. died and his son Victor S Johnson Jr. took over as
president of Aladdin Industries, Inc. In 1949, in an effort to centralize operations,
Johnson Jr. moved Aladdin’s offices and manufacturing facilities to Nashville, Tennessee.
Lunch
Under Johnson Jr’s management, Aladdin began producing metal lunch boxes in the 40s.
By the 50s Aladdin was an industry leader in this category and would remain so for the
next 30 years. Aladdin’s dominance in lunch products resulted from a strategic move in
the early 50s to license popular character images on its products. Hopalong Cassidy was
the first character licensed product and in its first year, sales skyrocketed from 50,000
units to 600,000 units. Aladdin had struck a chord with consumers nationwide. Lunch
would never look the same again.
In 1965 Aladdin Industries expanded their product line through the acquisition of the
Stanley steel bottle operation. This move helped solidify the company’s position in
the food and beverage container category by deepening their line of steel offerings.
Around this time, Aladdin started another subsidiary, called Aladdin Synergetics,
which produced meal trays for hospitals, airlines and prisons. This subsidiary was
later sold in 1998 to Welbit Corporation.
80's - Today
During the 80s and 90s Aladdin continued to gain critical mass for its products
and its Nashville, TN operation grew to employ 1100 employees by the mid 90s.
At this time, foam insulated mugs grew in popularity and Aladdin’s products were
sold in grocery chains and drugstores nationwide. Unfortunately, during this time,
Aladdin also suffered from mis-management and high operation costs which forced
Aladdin to close their Nashville plant in 2002.
Recognizing the value of the Aladdin brand, and determined to bring new life to
the iconic brand, Seattle based Pacific Market International (PMI) purchased
Aladdin in 2002. Since then the brand has seen significant growth and has once
again become a leader in innovation. Today not only does the brand provide women
with stylish, functional food and beverage products it’s once again pioneering the
use of new materials and technologies to revolutionize how we enjoy food and beverages.