Pearson's St. Paul Shutting Down
Pearson's Candy St. Paul plant set to close by 2026, affecting 80 jobs and iconic brands.
Anonymous
Key Points
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The closure triggers WARN requirements with a 60 days’ notice filed to Minnesota’s State Rapid Response Team; the notice also notes union involvement (Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local 22) and that there are no bumping rights for senior employees.
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Ownership history includes a 1985 buyback by longtime Pearson’s employees Larry Hassler and Judith Johnston, a 2011 acquisition by Brynwood Partners, and current ownership by Promise Confections/Promise Holdings.
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The St. Paul site’s product portfolio has extended beyond Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie to include Mint Patties and the Seven Up Bar; Pearson’s also purchased Trudeau Candy in 1951, adding a manufacturing facility and brands such as Mint Patties to the lineup.
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The plant is located at 2130 7th Street West in St. Paul, and officials have announced the shutdown will take effect September 28, 2026, with about 80 employees laid off.
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Promise Confections states it is looking to move certain key Pearson’s brands to a strategic partner and will continue to explore options to preserve legacy products, signaling ongoing changes to the brand portfolio even as the St. Paul facility closes.
Pearson's Candy Company will permanently close its St. Paul factory on September 28, 2026, laying off about 80 workers, according to 1037 The Loon. The plant at 2130 7th Street West has made iconic Midwest treats — Salted Nut Roll, Nut Goodies, and Bun Bars — for decades. Current owner Promise Confections says the facility is no longer financially sustainable.
The closure ends a manufacturing legacy stretching back to the company's founding in Minneapolis in 1909 and its move to St. Paul in 1950. Promise Confections says it plans to move certain key brands to a strategic partner, but details on which products will survive — and where they'll be made — remain unclear, KROC News reported.
80 Jobs Gone as WARN Notice Filed
Promise Confections filed a WARN notice with Minnesota's State Rapid Response Team. WARN laws require employers to give workers at least 60 days' notice before a mass layoff. The notice covers roughly 80 employees and includes members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local 22, according to The Rock of Rochester.
The notice also states there are no bumping rights for senior employees. Bumping rights normally let longer-tenured workers take the jobs of newer employees. Their absence means all 80 workers face layoffs with no option to displace junior colleagues.
117 Years of Candy History in St. Paul
Pearson's started in Minneapolis in 1909 and relocated to St. Paul in 1950. In 1951, the company bought Trudeau Candy, adding a new manufacturing facility and brands like Mint Patties. The St. Paul plant eventually produced Salted Nut Roll, Nut Goodies, Bun Bars, Mint Patties, and the Seven Up Bar, KOOL 101.7 reported.
The Salted Nut Roll alone dates back to the 1930s, making it one of Minnesota's oldest candy brands. The factory became a St. Paul institution, known for the smell of roasting peanuts drifting through the neighborhood.
Ownership Changed Hands Three Times Since 1985
Pearson's has had a turbulent ownership history. In 1985, longtime employees Larry Hassler and Judith Johnston bought the company back from previous owners. In 2011, private equity firm Brynwood Partners acquired Pearson's. The company is now owned by Promise Confections under its parent, Promise Holdings, according to KROC News.
Promise Confections said the closure "reflects the current business and economic environment." The company added it is actively looking for a strategic partner to keep making certain Pearson's brands. No partner has been named yet.
Fate of Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie Still Unknown
Promise Confections has not said which brands will move to a new manufacturer or which might disappear. The company says it will "continue to explore options to preserve legacy products," but gave no timeline, according to KROCNEWS.com.
For many Minnesotans, the Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie are more than candy — they're regional staples sold at gas stations and grocery stores across the state. Whether they will keep being made after September 28, 2026, is the key question no one has answered yet.
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