When news came out at the end of July that Pearson's Candy in St. Paul would close and lay off 80 workers, the KAXE Morning Show needed to know more.
We talked with Minnesota Star Tribune food writer Joy Summers, who recently polled readers about their favorite Pearson's candies. The Salted Nut Roll was the clear favorite, followed by Mint Patties and then Nut Goodie.
But Summers said the responses she got were about much more than candy. Minnesotans flooded her with stories about what Pearson's meant to them.
“One of my favorites sounded like a Hallmark movie,” Summers said.
She described the love story of a counter girl from Dayton's who met her future husband while he was selling Pearson's candy to make extra money for the holiday.
"Their children wrote to me and said that if it wasn't for Pearson's, they never would have met!"
Summer said Pearson's is an important part of Minnesota's cultural identity.
"It's not going to be here anymore and some of these candies probably aren't going to make this shift to the production facility that they're moving everything to. Plus, we're losing those jobs," she said.
Leave a Speakpipe voice message with your Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie stories!
Summers said the stories show why the loss of Pearson's feels bigger than the loss of a candy company. It's part of the cultural identity of Minnesotans.
Summers herself has deep ties to the candy, with her dad. "Growing up in Grand Rapids, going to the gas station, getting a Salted Nut Roll, and then the two of us sharing that experience — it was as formative as going to Sammy's Pizza."
Though the Minnesota plant is set to close this fall, the company stated it hopes to fold in some of its key brands in the future.
Summers said, "What they didn't say is that Salted Nut Roll is the greatest candy bar ever and it would be a ridiculous business decision to not include that and continue to manufacture it."
One listener told us she would be sad to drive by the candy factory in St. Paul and not see the light on. Summers agreed and said, "It always felt to me like there's this local Willy Wonka-type space there, even though I know logically it's just a factory."
There are feelings and stories about Salted Nut Rolls and Goodie Bars
KAXE's Malachy Koons wrote:
"The best part of every trip to the supermarket comes at the end. Kept on their own well away from the standard candies as if they are some how lesser. In cost? You betcha. But in character, texture, flavor and importance to the people of Minnesota? Absolutely not.
"The stress of picking through row upon row of endless versions of the same thing? Erased. The energy lost pushing your cart up and down every single aisle to find every deal? Replenished by the obviously healthy crunchy Virginia peanuts.
"Real candy connoisseurs know what I'm talking about. If this really is the end for Pearson's, we can only hope some other candy company will take up the mantle and keep the people's candy alive."
Listeners had a lot to say
- "Love this discussion. Bob and I worked at a summer camp in northern Michigan in 1979. This was before candy became only sugar. Salted nut rolls were sacred, along with Vernon's ginger ale. Together they were the best treat at the canteen." - Nancy from Twig
- "Craft beer brewers are having a bit of an existential crisis regarding Nut Rolls! Brewer's Supply Group always hides a salted nut roll in pallets of grain! Known as the brewer's lunch!" - Tasha from Klockow Brewing
- "My dad, who died five years ago at almost age 99, always bought a Nut Goodie for us as kids for a treat. This didn't happen very often, no more than once every other couple months, but ever since then, Nut Goodie has been my go to candy bar." - Bill from Wabana
- "In the 70s, I worked in a bar on West Seventh Street. On Saturday mornings, one of the guys that worked nights at Pearson would bring in warm odds & ends of the salted nut rolls for the staff & morning bar flies. They were so yummy!!!" - Nancy B.
- "Oh please, don't make us pick a favorite Pearson's bar. It's like asking a parent which of your kids you like the most. Deep in your heart you might have a favorite but you can never openly state one over another. It makes the one you didn't pick feel rejection. They are both special." - Tim from Maple Grove
- "My cousin worked at Pearson's in the '70s. She would bring home ends and pieces of candy bars from the assembly line. They were delicious." - Lori from Spring Lake
Listen to our full conversation above, including lively taste testing.
Leave a Speakpipe voice message with your Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie stories!
