Aladdin > About Us > History
History
Aladdin pioneered pop icon images 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 and 90's
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 all over the US,
South America, Europe, and Asia.
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 designer food and drinkware, it’s once again pioneering the use of new materials
and technologies to revolutionize how we enjoy food and beverages.