Byrnes, Edward.

Reymer Brothers was established in 1846 by Philip Reymer and R. J. Anderson as the first confectionary store in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; Anderson left the business in 1861 whereupon the Reymer brothers, Jacob and Harmar D. Reymer, developed the business into Reymer Brothers. Reymer Brothers was bought out by the H.J. Heinz Company in 1960 who also acquired the rights to their signature beverage, Lemon Blennd. Lemon Blennd was created in 1914 by E. J. W. Keagy, a druggist from the North Side of Pittsburgh, Pa., and was first sold as a frozen ice slush drink at his drugstore. In 1932 Reymer Brothers bought the rights to make the drink. Initially, Blennd was only served in the Reymer tea rooms but because of demand it was soon introduced to the retail market. In 1953, Blennd was sold in 46 oz cans as a ready-to-serve drink. In 1960 the H.J. Heinz Company bought out Reymer Brothers and began producing the drink for sale in grocery stores. Heinz sold Lemon Blennd for twenty years before selling the rights to the drink to the Byrnes and Kiefer Company. Upon acquiring the rights to Lemon Blennd, B&K returned the Reymer label to the product. Edward G. Byrnes Jr. became president of Byrnes and Kiefer in 1977 and made the decision in 1979 to acquire Reymers Blennd from the H.J. Heinz Co. in order to diversify his business.