Fort Valley, GA, April 16, 2024 – As nut products continue to show strong growth in the snack category, flavored pecans have emerged as a consumer favorite, driving intentional and impulse sales at grocers, convenience stores and retailers.

Pecan Nation and South Georgia Pecan Company, both multi-generational Georgia pecan companies, have recently joined forces in a move that will expand production, ensure quality, and increase efficiencies to better serve their retail partners and foster continued growth.

Georgia is the largest supplier of pecans in the nation – producing one-third of the pecans enjoyed in the U.S. each year. Pecan Nation has been a leader in growing and marketing pecans for over five generations. South Georgia Pecan, which operates facilities in Georgia and Texas, is the largest pecan sheller in the world, and has developed proprietary processes for developing and processing flavored pecans.

“Combining forces with South Georgia Pecan is a massive boost for our brand because it enables us to continue evolving and expanding, while remaining true to the rich history of our delicious pecans,” said Will McGehee, Partner, Pecan Nation.

The partnership between these two industry powerhouses creates a best-in-class collaboration where growers are more closely tied to processors to deliver unrivaled quality products to grocery, convenience and hardware stores as well as other untapped channels. This total category approach expands Pecan Nation’s capabilities, positioning them to proactively introduce a variety of innovative snacks to the category, and more nimbly react to the needs dictated by the market. The added capacity ensures a consistently available supply of healthy, flavorful snacks.

“Since its inception, Pecan Nation has been emphatic about having the most flavorful pecans around,” said Duke Lane III, Partner, Pecan Nation. “Our partnership with South Georgia Pecan allows our brand to remain at the forefront of flavor and innovation while keeping our pecans affordable and always available for consumers.”

“I’ve known the people at Pecan Nation for years and long admired their work and impact on this industry,” said Jeff Worn, President and CEO, South Georgia Pecan Company. “They have an ambitious vision for our industry and Pecan Nation has changed the game by moving pecans from being primarily a baking ingredient to becoming a significant part of the snack category. Our businesses are well aligned with similar business values, and by coming together, we will elevate Pecan Nation into the undisputed leader of pecans for the snack nut category.”

“This alliance underscores Pecan Nation’s approach and exemplifies the collaborative spirit that we bring to our retail and distributing partners every day,” said Nick Quast, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Pecan Nation. “Today we are available across 15,000 outlets, and our partnership with South Georgia Pecan allows us to strategically build out a larger footprint in the snacking category while staying true to the quality of our pecans.”

As the No. 1 snacking pecan brand with a more than 25% three-year CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate), Pecan Nation can be found online and in snacking aisles at thousands of grocery, convenience and hardware stores around the country. The alignment of Pecan Nation and South Georgia Pecan bridges a divide between the grower, processor, and marketer enabling both companies to bring an unsurpassed level of expertise and industry history together under the Pecan Nation name.

For more information on Pecan Nation visit ThePecanNation.com.
For more information on South Georgia Pecan Company visit GeorgiaPecan.com.

About Pecan Nation
Pecan Nation has been growing, harvesting and cooking America’s native nut for five generations, perfecting our process along the way to bring consumers the tastiest pecans around. We offer our delicious pecans in a variety of sweet and savory flavors as well as multiple convenient pack sizes that everyone can enjoy for any occasion. All products are available  at ThePecanNation.com, on Amazon, and in snacking aisles at grocery, convenience and hardware stores around the country.

About South Georgia Pecan
Celebrating over a century in business, South Georgia Pecan attributes its longevity to continuous adaptation and innovation within our ever-evolving industry. We are more than just pecans; our commitment to excellence, profound industry knowledge, and extensive experience are evident from the initial customer interaction. Tradition resonates deeply in our values, reflected in how we cherish relationships with growers and customers alike. Experience the exceptional flavors and quality of SGP at our website, georgiapecan.com

South Georgia Pecan El Paso made history by hosting its inaugural National Pecan Day Bake-Off, a culinary extravaganza featuring an impressive array of both savory and sweet dishes that showcased the versatility and deliciousness of pecans. From savory entrees to delectable desserts, each creation featured pecans as the shining star ingredient, imparting a delightful crunch and rich flavor to every bite.

We are thrilled to congratulate our deserving winners: Veronica Padilla claimed the coveted first-place spot with her mouthwatering Trasnochados de nuez, while Daniel Gutierrez’s tantalizing Pecan Strawberry Sweet Salad earned him a well-deserved second place. Belma Vargas rounded out the top three with her scrumptious Pecan Cookies, delighting the taste buds of all who sampled them. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our esteemed panel of judges, Martha Duran, David Nunez, and Leobardo Marrufo, for their expertise and discerning palates. And to all the talented participants, thank you for making this event a resounding success!

Let’s continue to celebrate the rich tradition of SGP with more delicious bake-offs in the future!

SGP Valdosta recently hosted its highly anticipated second National Pecan Day bake-off, and the level of competition was nothing short of impressive, with an array of delectable entries showcasing the versatility of pecans in culinary creations. We’re thrilled to announce our

deserving winners: Butter Pecan Ice Cream claimed the coveted first place, followed closely by the delectable Pecan Pound Cake in second place, and the irresistible Savory Toasted Pecans securing third place. A heartfelt congratulations to all our participants for their outstanding contributions!

Behind the scenes, our esteemed panel of judges, including Mackey Sauls, Cameron Chavarria, and Cierra Bellamy, faced the challenging task of selecting the winners from such a talented pool of entries. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Brieanna Pratho for capturing the first-place honor, Miriam Jones for her exceptional second-place creation, and Paul Joseph for his impressive third-place finish.

A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who participated in making this event a resounding success, from the competitors to the organizers and attendees. Your passion and dedication to celebrating the deliciousness of pecans truly made this event memorable!

Nathan Smith, Tocsha Brown, and Brieanna Pratho had the privilege of representing South Georgia Pecan at a career expo geared towards 500 middle and high school students eager to explore STEAM careers. It was an exhilarating opportunity to connect with the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Throughout the event, we immersed students in the diverse facets of our organization, delving into the intricacies of engineering, our meticulous processes, cutting-edge IT systems, intricate accounting practices, and the dynamic realm of computer science technology. But what truly captivated their attention was our deep dive into the mesmerizing world of pecans – from cultivation to processing and beyond. By sharing our passion and expertise, we hoped to ignite curiosity and inspire these young minds to pursue their passions in the STEAM fields.

The event was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on both students and ourselves. As we continue to nurture the next generation of talent, we remain committed to fostering innovation, diversity, and excellence in the STEAM community.

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