JBL was first created in 1960 with the opening of a small pet shop in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After the launch of the brand name JBL, the company quickly grew to become one of the largest providers of the full range of products for aquariums, terrariums and ponds in Germany. Since 1984 company headquarters have been located in Neuhofen/Pfalz. Today JBL supplies 60 countries worldwide with a range of over 900 products. Approximately 50% of sales are for export. With a staff counting 160 employees, the company, now based in Neuhofen, produces diverse products for ornamental fish, ponds, turtles and reptiles. The focus here lies on the production of fish food.
A large share of the budget is invested in research. JBL has its own research centre in Neuhofen with a team of biologists who develop and compare new JBL products.
JBL exclusively sells its products through specialty stores. The products are developed according to the guiding principle that application of the products must be as simple as possible so that keepers of aquariums find their hobby becoming simpler rather than more complicated.