About Us
Jelinek Cork Group - Tradition and Innovation since 1855
Corkplanet.com, Corkstore.com and Corkstore.ca are the e-commerce sites for Jelinek Cork Group, a company that specializes in cork and cork products. Both sites ship worldwide. The Cork Store was established in 1996 as one of the first online retailers dedicated to cork products. Since then, it has evolved into a global supplier offering a wide range of cork solutions to customers around the world.
Our History
Jelinek Cork Group was founded in 1855 in the province of Bohemia, in what is now the Czech Republic. At that time, the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and known as the beer capital of the world. Jelinek supplied natural cork stoppers to leading breweries when beer bottles were still sealed with cork. The company later expanded to serve distilleries, wineries, cosmetics, spices, and food industries with cork-based closures.
During the communist occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1948, Jelinek Cork was nationalized. The Jelinek family fled to Canada and reestablished the company in North America. From there, it expanded throughout Canada and the USA and later returned to Eastern Europe in 1989 after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Today, Jelinek Cork Group has facilities in Canada, the United States, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Portugal — the heart of cork production.
New and Exciting Products
Over the years, Jelinek Cork has introduced innovative cork-based products across a variety of industries: automotive (gaskets, carburetor and gauge floats), musical instruments, batteries, footwear, sporting goods, and construction (decorative wall and floor coverings, acoustical, anti-static, and insulating materials). JCG also serves the stationery and home improvement sectors with natural cork solutions.
JCG is solely dedicated to the promotion, production, and distribution of cork products — from the forest to the finished product — making it one of the most innovative cork companies in the world.
Recognition of Responsibilities
Jelinek Cork Group is committed to environmental and social responsibility. The company promotes the continued preservation of the cork oak tree and its natural habitat. Cork is a unique, environmentally friendly, and renewable resource, and JCG’s mission centers around preserving its future.
JCG has supported several conservation efforts, including the groundbreaking Bag-a-Cork program — North America's first cork stopper recycling initiative. This program collected used wine corks for recycling and environmental awareness.
In December 2008, Jelinek launched a new recycled cork program still active today. Community groups, schools, and non-profits are encouraged to participate — raising funds while helping the environment. The program highlights cork's value as a renewable and recyclable resource.
JCG supports green building practices and fully endorses the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. Learn more about Jelinek Cork and LEED.
Research and development, environmental preservation, quality control, customer service and value are at the heart of JCG’s 150+ year legacy. As the company’s motto says: “If you like nature, you will love cork.” All cork products are made only “from trees that go on living.”
Metal crown corks (bottle caps) lined on the inside with natural cork disks — widely used in the 1940s and 1950s.