Jolly start for Sweet Pete’s national push

Jacksonville, Fla. retailer opens first Chicagoland store with Jolly Good Fellows acquisition.

Sweet Pete’s Candy, a specialty sweet and snack shop based in Jacksonville, Fla., has made its first foray into new markets with the acquisition of Jolly Good Fellows Sweet Boutique in Lake Forest, Ill.

Founded by Pete and Allison Behringer in 2010, along with entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis, host of CNBC’s reality series, The Profit, Sweet Pete’s manufactures a line of quality chocolates and sells almost a thousand different types of candies at its retail complex — which includes a candy store, full-service restaurant and bar, rooftop patio, dessert bar, candy making classes and more at the Jacksonville location.

The company plans to convert The Jolly Good Fellows retail store into a full-service Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop over the next month, where visitors can satisfy their sweet tooth with items such as gourmet chocolate, frozen yogurt, ice cream, baked goods, cotton candy, irresistible snacks, and other nostalgic confections.

It also intends to introduce the company’s signature candy- making classes and provide space for birthday parties as well as other private, catered events.

Jolly Good Fellows’ owner, Laura Fellows, opened the shop in downtown Lake Forest near the Metra train stop in 2013, and enjoyed great reviews on the creative candy, cupcakes and specialty treats throughout the Lake Forest and neighboring communities.

“Opening a Sweet Pete’s in the Chicagoland area allows us to create new ways for customers to enjoy timeless favorites and test the business model in different markets,” says new owner, Allison. “Over the past 12 months we have experienced tremendous growth based on having the proper people, process and product at our Jacksonville, Fla. facility and we will be reviewing additional markets across the country and opportunities in which to expand our Sweet Pete’s brand.”

The new Lake Forest location will boast a fully functioning candy factory and dessert bar, with patrons also having the option to create their own bulk custom candy mix finished with a variety of packaging available for special events and gifts. In addition, Sweet Pete’s will feature a 2,000-sq.-ft. event room that offers space for catered events, candy-making classes and birthday parties.

“The Sweet Pete’s brand is not your average candy store. We believe we now have the world’s largest candy store and we like to think of it as being a sweet emporium that offers both the young and the young at heart the ultimate sugar rush experience,” continues Behringer. “This North Shore Chicago location will continue to be a hit for the community and we are excited to have visitors from near and far to enjoy the ‘Sweetest Destination on Earth.’”

Lemonis initially partnered with the Sweet Pete’s Candy Co. on the hit CNBC reality series, The Profit, where Lemonis stepped in to assist Pete and Allison with the expansion of their business facility and product offering.

Pete has a wealth of knowledge in the candy business and has been making treats for more than 20 years. The company has since relocated to a 23,000-sq.-ft. building in downtown Jacksonville.

The Profit returns Nov. 3 with all new episodes including update episodes highlighting the success and growth of successful business partnership since the series began in July of 2013.

With more than 30 years experience in B-to-B reporting, writing and editing — the bulk of which was dedicated to covering the bakery, confectionery and snack industries — Pacyniak has chronicled changes within the food industry since the early 1980s. A Boston University journalism degree graduate, he worked for a variety of publications before joining BNP Media in 1994 as editor of Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine. In 2001, he took over as editor-in-chief of Candy Industry until 2018.