What Pearson Candy Company does

Pearson Candy Company (legally Pearson's Candy Company, LLC) is a privately-held, branded confectionery manufacturer founded in 1909 by P. Edward Pearson and his four brothers as a confectionary distribution firm in Minneapolis, and now headquartered and operating from a manufacturing plant at 2140 West 7th Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota (relocated from Minneapolis in 1950). The company produces a portfolio of cluster bars, candy bars, and mints including Salted Nut Roll (the flagship product, introduced 1933), Nut Goodie (1912), Mint Patties (acquired 1951 from Trudeau Candy along with the Seven Up Bar), BUN (1998), and the Thins platform (2019), with sub-brand variants such as Skippy Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Churro, Spicy, Apple Pie, and Snack Mix extensions around Salted Nut Roll. Manufacturing is carried out in small batches using traditional confectionery techniques, including in-house chocolate tempering and peppermint preparation; products are gluten-free and made in Saint Paul, with format options across original, king size, and bite size SKUs.

The business model centers on branded packaged-goods sales through multi-channel retail distribution. Products are sold via national retail chains (Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Dollar Tree), regional grocery chains (Cub Foods, Hyvee, Kroger, Fareway), convenience stores (7-Eleven, Quik Trip, Casey's, Maverik, Speedway, Love's, Circle K select locations), hardware stores (Ace Hardware, Menards, Fleet Farm, Murdoch's), drug stores (Walgreens), and dedicated Amazon storefronts per product line; the company does not ship directly to consumers from its own website. Secondary revenue is generated through licensing and co-branding partnerships, including Kemps ice cream inspired by Pearson's Nut Goodie, brewer ingredient partnerships with BSG (since 2004), and a beer collaboration with Invictus Brewing Company. Marketing supports these channels via Instagram and Facebook brand accounts (with separate handles for Salted Nut Roll), a Snack Squad brand ambassador program, email newsletter signups, and hashtag campaigns. The customer base is split between individual general consumers (primary persona seeking indulgent snacking, protein-packed on-the-go treats, and gluten-free options) and retail/grocery/convenience-store chains that carry the product lines.

The company is currently owned by Twin Cities-based private equity firm Spell Capital, which acquired Pearson's from Brynwood Partners in 2018-2019; earlier ownership transitions include a 1985 buyback by longtime employees Larry Hassler and Judith Johnston, and the 2011-2013 era under Brynwood during which the Bit-O-Honey brand was added (2013) and later divested (2020). Headcount is 101-250 employees, with no publicly disclosed revenue figure.

Name

Pearson Candy Company

Legal name

Pearson's Candy Company, LLC

Website

https://pearsonscandy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pearson Candy Company is a 110+ year-old privately-held confectionery manufacturer based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, producing branded cluster bars, candy bars, and mints — including Salted Nut Roll, Nut Goodie, Mint Patties, BUN, and Thins — for mass-market distribution through national retailers, regional grocers, convenience stores, hardware stores, drugstores, and Amazon storefronts across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Confectionery manufacturing

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confectionery Manufacturing (Chocolate, Candy, Gum) (AFAKAAAD), Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM), Confectionery (Candy & Chocolate) Wholesale (AFAIAFAC)

Keywords

• Confectionery manufacturing
• Candy products
• Chocolate bars
• Cluster bars
• Mint patties

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Candy product sales: Pearson Candy Company generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of confectionery products including Salted Nut Roll, Nut Goodie, Mint Patties, BUN bars, and Thins. Products are sold through retail channels and Amazon storefronts in various sizes and formats including original, king size, and bite size.
2. Licensing and co-branding: Pearson's generates revenue through licensing agreements with partners such as Kemps for ice cream products inspired by Pearson's candies, and brewer partnerships with BSG and Invictus Brewing for beer collaborations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pearson Candy Company is a confectionery manufacturer that produces and sells branded candy products including Salted Nut Roll, Nut Goodie, Mint Patties, BUN bars, and Thins. Products are manufactured in small batches at the company's Saint Paul, Minnesota production facility using in-house chocolate tempering, peppermint preparation, and original recipes (Nut Goodie since 1912, Salted Nut Roll since 1933, Mint Patties since 1951). Items are sold in multiple formats (original, king size, bite size, thins) through national retail chains, convenience, grocery, drug and hardware stores, and Amazon storefronts.

Product overview

Pearson's Candy Company is a candy manufacturer producing a portfolio of branded confectionery products. The core product lines include Salted Nut Roll (the flagship product with multiple variants including Skippy Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Churro, Spicy, Apple Pie, and Snack Mix), Mint Patties (dark chocolate with peppermint center), Nut Goodie (milk chocolate, peanuts, and maple nougat cluster bar made since 1912), and BUN (maple or vanilla nougat cluster bar). The Thins platform provides these candies as shareable, bite-sized pieces in resealable packaging. Products are gluten-free and manufactured in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Salted Nut Roll: The company's flagship product featuring roasted peanuts, golden caramel, and fluffy nougat. Available in Original, King Size, and Bite Size formats. Includes specialty variants like Skippy Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Churro, Spicy, and Apple Pie flavors.
• Nut Goodie
• Mint Patties
• BUN
• Thins

Products and services

• Salted Nut Roll The flagship Pearson's candy bar featuring roasted peanuts, golden caramel, and fluffy nougat, available in Original (1.8 oz), King Size (3.25 oz), and Bite Size (0.5 oz) formats, with 6g of protein per original bar. Sold to general consumers for grab-and-go snacking and protein-rich treats.
• Nut Goodie A premium cluster bar combining real milk chocolate, creamy maple nougat, and fresh roasted peanuts, made to the original 1912 recipe, gluten free, and produced in small batches in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Target customer is general consumers seeking an indulgent American-made cluster bar.
• Mint Patties A dark chocolate-covered peppermint candy at 55 calories per package, made with real peppermint and dark chocolate, available in 12 oz bag, 48 oz bag, and 4 lb jar formats. For general consumers as a post-meal, post-anything refreshing treat.
• BUN Premium cluster bars made of real milk chocolate with creamy maple or vanilla nougat and fresh roasted peanuts, available in 24-count boxes and Bite Size format. Sold to general consumers seeking an indulgent cluster bar.
• Thins Shareable, bite-sized pieces of favorite Pearson's candies in a stay-fresh, 7.5 oz resealable bag, available in Original Salted Nut Roll, Chocolate Chip, BUN, Cookies & Cream, Mint Patties, and Nut Goodie flavors. Sold to general consumers for shareable snacking.
• Skippy Peanut Butter Salted Nut Roll A Salted Nut Roll variant featuring a creamy Skippy peanut butter center combining roasted peanuts, golden caramel, and peanut butter, for consumers seeking a peanut-butter-forward candy bar.
• Salted Nut Roll Snack Mix A deconstructed Salted Nut Roll snack mix featuring roasted peanuts, vanilla nougat drops, and caramel-filled confection cups, for general consumers seeking shareable snacking.
• Nut Goodie Snack Mix A deconstructed Nut Goodie bar featuring roasted peanuts, maple nougat drops, and milk chocolate squares, for general consumers seeking shareable snacking with the Nut Goodie flavor profile.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products made in Minnesota since 1909
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• BSG (Brewer's Supply Group)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2004BSG has earned customer trust since 2004 by delivering finest brewing ingredients at competitive prices. BSG partners with Salted Nut Roll to provide peanut-packed protein to help brewers craft flavorful and distinctive beers throughout North America.
• Minnesota TwinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball (MLB) American League Central Division professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. Salted Nut Roll is a proud sponsor of the Minnesota Twins baseball team.
• KEMPSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKEMPS, quality-focused since 1914, is a farmer-owned dairy company. KEMPS partners with Pearson's Nut Goodie to deliver delicious ice cream inspired by the peanut-packed Salted Nut Roll.
• Invictus Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Blaine, Minnesota, Invictus Brewing Co. produces high-quality beers and believes brewing is the ultimate combination of art and science. They partner with Pearson's Candy to bring unique beers inspired by Pearson's Salted Nut Roll.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Farley's & Sathers Candy Company: Mid-sized U.S. confectionery company that has acquired and operated multiple heritage candy brands. Comparable to Pearson's in its portfolio-based approach to operating iconic American candy brands.
• Spangler Candy Company: Family-owned American candy maker behind Dum Dums lollipops and acquired Necco brands. Closely comparable to Pearson's as a privately held, multi-generational confectionery manufacturer with iconic heritage brands and national retail distribution.
• Brown & Haley: Tacoma-based maker of Almond Roca, a heritage chocolate cluster/confection brand sold nationally. Comparable to Pearson's Nut Goodie/BUN as a long-running, premium cluster/confection brand with national retail presence.
• Tootsie Roll Industries: Long-standing, mid-sized U.S. confectionery manufacturer with a heritage portfolio of branded candies (Tootsie Roll, Junior Mints, Charleston Chew). Comparable in scale, age, multi-SKU strategy, and mass-retail distribution to Pearson's.
• Jelly Belly Candy Company: Mid-sized U.S. specialty confectionery manufacturer with a portfolio of heritage jelly bean and gummy brands sold nationally. Similar in scale, product format, and channel strategy to Pearson's.

Broad incumbents

• The Hershey Company: Largest U.S. chocolate manufacturer with deep mass-retail relationships and a much broader SKU portfolio. Competes with Pearson's across category shelves and sets category pricing and merchandising standards.
• Ferrara Candy Company: Major U.S. sugar and chocolate confectionery producer (Brach's, Black Forest, Lemonheads). Competes in adjacent non-chocolate confectionery and mass-retail gifting occasions alongside Pearson's.
• Russell Stover Chocolates: Major U.S. boxed chocolate and seasonal confectionery brand with strong mass-retail and drugstore presence. Overlaps with Pearson's Mint Patties and gift/seasonal positioning at retailers like Walgreens.
• Whitman's Chocolates: Heritage boxed chocolate and seasonal confection brand widely distributed in U.S. mass and drug retail. Comparable channel and seasonal/occasion positioning to Pearson's despite different core format.
• Mars Wrigley: Global confectionery leader (Snickers, M&M's, Twix, etc.) with massive marketing budgets and omnipresent retail distribution. Competes with Pearson's for impulse and gifting occasions across major U.S. retailers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pearsonscandy
• Facebookfacebook.com/pearsonscandy
• Instagraminstagram.com/pearsonscandy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pearson Candy Company