As of Monday, July 12, 2019 Family Fun Companies and Jennison Entertainment Technologies (JET) have merged. Jeff Peveler of Family Fun Companies will be representing both companies. The combined offices will be in Daytona Beach FL, home of JET and at some point all sales will likely flow through JET.
Family Fun Companies was founded by J. Richard Oltman who is remembered as ‘the Father of Redemption’ having created more than 40 new game concepts. Who can forget Pharoah’s Treasure, Pharoah’s Revenge, Flip 2 Win, Wonder Wheel, Basket Fortune, Soccer Fortune, Time 2 Win, just to name a few. Many of his games were tested and featured at his Enchanted Castle (60,000 sq. ft.) in Lombard, IL and Haunted Trails FEC’s along with his hundreds of creative crane and merchandiser prize theme displays and marketing concepts.
Jennison Entertainment Technologies Corporation (JET) run by brothers Justin Jennison (CEO) and Kern Jennison (COO) also has produced many great games: Hollywood Reel’s (2007) Space Ballz (2010), Snow Down (2013), Ocean Pearls, Jersey Wheels, Rockin & Rollin. Some of these games have remained as ‘workhorses’ in the Redemption & FEC Report.
JET Games Acquires Family Fun Companies DAYTONA BEACH, Florida August 14, 2019
Jennison Entertainment Technologies (JET Games) has acquired the assets of Family Fun Companies (FFC). FFC and its entire team have relocated to Daytona Beach, Florida where both companies will operate at JET’s current corporate headquarters. Family Fun Companies was founded by the late Richard Oltmann in 2000. Over the following 19 years, FFC became a distinguished design and manufacturing company developing many popular games and rides in the family entertainment industry. JET will continue to operate the Family Fun brand tailoring certain future products for each business. Chief Operations Officer Kern Jennison, commented that “It was important to JET to ensure all FFC staff would continue employment with a similar position in Florida – it’s the people and staff that are the most important part of any company – and it’s those people we want to join the JET team”. There is synergy between the two companies – where JET has had great success this year in emerging markets, FFC has several product lines that fit naturally into those areas. Director of Business Development John Brennan commented that, “The merger of JET with FFC brand and kiddie rides, will allow us to achieve our mutually held goals in established as well as emerging markets”. In anticipation of reaching a deal, JET has spent the last few months building a large addition to its current US headquarters. All JET and FFC parts and service will be consolidated into a single state-of-the-art space. FFC’s Alex Mazon will be tasked to streamline the integration between both companies. Alex commented that, “JET’s acquisition of FFC will grow both companies faster and I am excited to use JET’s strong international presence to bring the FFC line to developing markets”. JET will be sharing some of its future products to its customers at a private showing at next month’s GTI show in Guangzhou. “We are excited to carry on the legacy of Richard Oltmann” said CEO Justin Jennison. “When we started in the industry in 2003 and then began our manufacturing arm in 2007, Rich offered Kern and I an extensive amount of advice and support. We have always been grateful for his insight. We wish to thank Frank Sikora for being instrumental in the execution of the deal and we look forward to welcoming the entire Family Fun team to Florida”. JET will launch a combined cutting-edge website in September that will offer distributors and customers an abundance of information including product videos, support videos, and employing new technologies for operators to track all service-related issues using mobile devices. JET will now offer service and support for the entire Family Fun line of products. For assistance with any JET or FFC game, call 1-855-JET-GAME. For sales information, contact your local distributor. At JET Games, we are taking entertainment to new heights!
What this could mean? This merger is not only a good one for both Family Fun and JET but for the industry as well. I first recall seeing Jennison games and meeting both Justin and Kern at IAAPA 2007 (maybe a year before when they showed a multi-player pusher) when I reviewed Hollywood Reel’s that won Best New Product Award at IAAPA 2007. I got to test that game and it did very well. I learned how smart the Jennison brothers are when it came to engineering and design but quickly noticed that marketing was not a primary focus. However, JET still did a decent job getting their games into 45 countries.
Family Fun Companies is highly focused on marketing and currently has 3 new games (Cyclotron, Super Wings, Shoot The Poop) plus their kiddie ride staples. And we all miss the irreplaceable Rich Oltman.
The industry will benefit because the Jennison brothers no longer have to worry about marketing but on honing their skills on creating more great games and Family Fun can spend more of their time focusing on getting more of those great games out there across the globe.
