Originally a confectionery distribution company, Pearson's Candy Company soon realized that the real money was in manufacturing. So the five brothers -- Edward, John, Oscar, Waldemar, and C. Fritz -- worked to create candies, starting with the Nut Goodie in 1912. In addition to their own candies, they also produced goods for othe rcompanies, such as Planters. Their big hit came at a time when many other companies were reeling from the Great Depression. In 1933 Pearson's introduced the Salted Nut Roll, which went on to become such a runaway success that it spawned dozens of imitators. After a quick name change to Choo Choo Bar, Pearson's returned to the original. Both the Salted Nut Roll and the Nut Goodie are still sold today, despite many acquisitions and ownership changes within Pearson's through the years. They've also acquired the candy Bit-O-Honey, founding out their product lineup.
