Albert George, a Lebanese immigrant, along with other family members, purchased second-hand cone-baking machines and started ... the George & Thomas Cone Company in 1918. Today, that company is still owned/operated by the George family along with the employees. As such, the company is now an ESOP and is known as Joy Baking Group, after its signature brand of ice cream cones. It is today the largest ice cream cone company in the world, baking over 1.5 billion cones/year. In 2016, Joy Baking Group formerly Joy Cone Co. acquired the BoDeans Baking Group, putting the leaders of Industrial, Retail, and Food Service, under “one roof.” In addition, Joy Baking Group converted to a 100% Employee Owned Company, including all Joy and BoDeans employees. Our success is a direct result of our people. Fellow employees are viewed as being part of the Joy Baking Group family and we are all owners of the company. Family ties, attention to detail, and old-fashioned quality are the ingredients that make our cones, wafers, and cookies some of the best in the world, and are necessary for our continued success for years to come. read more