Jelly Belly Candy Company has appointed John Di Giusto to the newly-created position of general counsel for the candy manufacturing firm.

Di Giusto has represented Jelly Belly over the last five years while with law firm Boutin Jones.

Chief Operating Officer and President Robert Simpson said the decision to bring legal counsel in-house was prompted by the growing international and domestic initiatives of the company. “The complexities of managing and developing a multinational brand, coupled with strong domestic sales, prompted the decision to grow our executive team by creating an in-house counsel position," he said.

Currently, Jelly Belly distributes its products in 76 countries around the globe and has facilities in California; Illinois; Hamburg, Germany; Rayong, Thailand; and Shanghai China.