Pearson Candy Company, Inc.

Pearson Candy Company, Inc. of Culver City, California was an American confectionery company founded in 1928 by Barney Pearson. The company manufactured over 30 candy products during its 42 years in business. Most notable was the Pearson Nips Candy which continues to be produced and sold today by Nestlé.
History.
Formed in 1928, the Pearson Candy Company, Inc. was originally located in downtown Los Angeles on Fifth Street and Towne Avenue. In 1955, the business relocated to 10101 West Jefferson Boulevard and Pearson Street on seven acres adjacent to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture back lot.
Products.
Over 30 types of confectioneries were manufactured including lollipops, suckers, candy canes, and hand-wrapped candies. The Pearson Nip line was created in the early 1960s with the introduction of the Coffee Nip followed by the Caramel Nip, the Licorice Nip and other flavors. The company designed a candy forming apparatus which was patented in 1961.
Signature product: Pearson Coffee Nip.
The Pearson Coffee Nip was developed by observing European techniques. The formula for the Coffee Nip was created by Claude Barnett, a food chemist, and Dan Pearson. Dan Pearson requested a candy that people would eat during a work break, such as on a coffee break. Without a laboratory or test kitchen, research was done on a coffee candy formula using batch size samples. Claude used a high cooked caramel mixed with coffee until the right combination was achieved.
The unique wrappings observed in European wrapped candy inspired the use of gold foil and fancy cellophanes using double or single twist wraps. The original colors of the Coffee Nip wrappers were coffee brown, chartreuse and backed by a foil inner wrap producing the third color.
Ownership changes.
1. In 1968, Pearson Candy Company, Inc. was sold to W.R. Grace Company.
2. In 1982, W.R. Grace Company and Pearson Candy Company, Inc. holdings were sold to RJR Nabisco.
3. In 1989, RJR Nabisco and Pearson Candy Company, Inc. holdings were sold to Nestlé.
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