Georgia has lost a longtime candy-making operation as Stuckey’s closes its Wrens manufacturing and distribution facility, adding another chapter to recent candy industry layoffs and restructuring. Company leadership told WSB-TV that about 25 employees were affected by the closure.
The shutdown does not mean Stuckey’s is going out of business. The nearly 90-year-old Georgia brand says its pecan snacks, candies and famous Pecan Log Rolls will continue to be sold, with production shifting to partner facilities in the state and the Wrens retail shop remaining open.
Stuckey’s closes manufacturing in Wrens
Stuckey’s traces its roots to 1937, when W.S. Stuckey Sr. began selling pecans from a roadside stand in Eastman, Georgia. The business grew into a familiar American road-trip brand, eventually becoming known for pecan candies and its signature Pecan Log Roll.
In announcing the Wrens decision, Stuckey’s pointed to a difficult operating environment that included rising costs, tariffs, higher fuel prices and the lingering effects of Hurricane Helene, which caused major damage to Georgia’s pecan crop. The company said closing its manufacturing and distribution operation would allow it to adapt while continuing to serve customers.
Reports put the job loss at roughly two dozen
There is a small discrepancy in public reporting about the exact number of jobs affected. Stephanie Stuckey told WSB-TV that about 25 employees were being laid off, while Georgia Public Broadcasting reported that 20 workers had been laid off. WSB-TV also reported that 20 employees were initially laid off on August 17, with eight agreeing to stay temporarily to help with the transition.
That makes “about 25” the most cautious way to describe the overall impact while recognizing that the final headcount has been reported differently. The company has not said the brand itself is shutting down.
The candy will still be made in Georgia
Production is being moved to partner facilities, including a longtime partner in Garfield, Georgia. Stuckey’s says its products will remain available through retailers such as Ingles and Food Lion, while the Wrens gift shop will continue selling candies, pecan snacks and other Georgia-made products.
For Wrens, however, the change is significant. Manufacturing and distribution have ended at a facility that had become central to Stuckey’s modern revival, even as the company works to keep its decades-old brand and road-trip traditions alive through a different production model.
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