Statement for the Record on Pearson's Candy Closure

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the employees and many fans of Pearson’s Candy Company, the 117-year old candy producer which has been making its iconic Nut Goodie and Salted Nut Roll candies at its manufacturing facility in Saint Paul since 1957. Last month, Pearson’s announced that it will be closing its West Seventh Street Saint Paul factory at the end of September, eliminating approximately 80 jobs.

Founded in 1909 by P. Edward Pearson and his brothers, Pearson’s Candy Company introduced its famous Nut Goodie in 1912. Featuring maple nougat, roasted peanuts, and a milk-chocolate coating, the Nut Goodie was a hit and has been enjoyed for generations. In 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression, Pearson’s debuted the Salted Nut Roll. Its vanilla nougat center, caramel layer, and salted peanut coating gave people something sweet yet filling for only 5 cents. In 1957, production moved to the current location on West Seventh Street in Saint Paul, where the beloved treats have been produced ever since. 

Sadly, Pearson’s Candy Company has now announced that its Saint Paul factory will end production and close its doors at the end of September, leaving about 80 employees without their jobs. The layoffs will affect positions across production, maintenance, quality control, shipping, and management. Jobs being eliminated include candy makers, packers, maintenance mechanics, boiler operators, machine operators, quality control technicians, HVAC technicians, shipping and receiving clerks, production managers, and the IT manager. While Pearson’s parent company, Promise Confections, has stated that production of these iconic products will continue elsewhere, the closure marks the end of more than a century of candy manufacturing in Minnesota and will leave about 80 Saint Paul workers without jobs.

In my role as a United States Representative, I have often purchased Pearson’s candies to share at special events, including with visitors, ambassadors, and dignitaries from around the world. I have lost count of how many times someone has tried one and immediately asked for another - a small testament to the enduring appeal of this Minnesota-made treat.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the Pearson’s Candy Company’s 117-year history of candy production in Minnesota, nearly seven decades of Nut Goodie and Salted Nut Roll production on Saint Paul’s West Seventh Street, and the generations of workers and families who produced these iconic Minnesota treats.