Bear Food

It was my first time visiting Bear Foods retail location in downtown Matthew's. I have had their nuts many times and love all the unique flavors. I especially like the spicy flavors, and my husband likes the dill pickle flavored peanuts. My other favorite is the Bear Mix. This adorable store not only carries their products, but also many local NC/SC products. Mac, the owner and Carin are super nice and care about the local community. Stop by soon and sample some of their delicious products that are also good for you. Check out their new location on the main drag of Matthews on Trade Street, walkable area and close to Carolina Beer Temple so if you get thirsty after sampling nuts stop in.

A great place to get local products from women owned businesses. Nuts, chocolates, coffee, honey, jam, hot sauce, salsa, sauces, bitters, ready to heat food, and a lot more. Nice location. Definitely worth a visit if you are near downtown Matthew’s. Carin and staff are very friendly.

Oh man those hot honey peanuts 🤯are SO good! My mom makes me go and buy a few tins of the Bear mix to take home when I head back to NYS. Highly recommend!

Ran into a buddy in downtown Matthews yesterday and was told he had gotten a new job. When I asked where, he pointed to a place I hadn’t seen before and I noticed the name “Bear Food” was on the awning. After enduring enough of my wise cracks about his decision to support his family selling food for bears, he gave me the back story of the place, a description of their products, and told me the grand opening would be the next day. I’d give this friend the shirt off my back so I promised to drop by. Cut to tonight and after plowing through a 6.5 oz bag of the Honey Toasted Pecans and a 6.5 oz bag of Herb Spiced Cashews, I haven’t left much room for dinner. I’d been promised they would be good but even so, they both exceeded my expectations. While there, I also picked up some tasty looking poultry rub and a balsamic vinegar that looked as thick as honey. Considering I won’t have any more cashews or pecans to fill up on tomorrow, we plan to grill some chicken using the rub and top a salad with it using the dressing. Beyond the nice variety of products, Bear Food has a great story centered around true entrepreneurship and a clear heart for serving some really special people in our community. Can you buy cheaper peanuts and cashews at Costco? Sure. But I promise they won’t taste as good and the last time I went to Costco, I don’t remember meeting and talking to the owner, which I had the pleasure of doing today. If you enjoy unique shops, tasty treats, and supporting your local neighbors with special needs, give this place a shot. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Decided to stop by yesterday, as I was shopping in some other stores, and this place is just the cutest. The store not only has the Bear Food snacks, but carries other locally made items, like honey, coffee and Sweet’s brand Elderberry syrup, which I think is a smart move. I enjoyed chatting with the owner, Mac, about how he got his start, and his love for his brother (who is a special needs adult). A portion of Mac’s sales go towards a ministry that helps special needs people, which hits home for me, and I think is awesome. Anyway, I love supporting local businesses, as well as those that give back to the community. I recommend you check them out!

My bf and I stumbled upon this place by accident last summer and I fell in love with the jalapeño peanuts! I've gotten several tins of them since. They have the absolute perfect balance of spice and flavor. There was one instance when I ran out and hadn't been able to get any due to my work hours conflicting with the store's opening hours. I looked in several stores for jalapeño peanuts around Charlotte and even when visiting my hometown on the obx. None had jalapeño peanuts and the other spicy options came nowhere close to the ones from Bear Food. My bf surprised me with a large tin of them and I swear I treat them like a rare delicacy! I hate sharing because it means less for me! I highly, HIGHLY recommend!

This place is awesome! Anything you can think of! Not only do they have snack packs, they helped me make gift baskets for all 200 of my staff for an event. Plus they put my logo on everything!

Fantastic specialty food gift store. All local!

The Dill Pickle peanuts are the BEST! I’m totally addicted to them now.
I bought myself the large tin for christmas and i’m already out.
Headed back this afternoon to get a refill!

Such a great variety of flavors for high quality pecans and peanuts. I still can’t decide which is my favorite…cajun spice peanuts or the jalapeño peanuts, but you really can’t go wrong with any option. I also love the focus on local foods and goods to help out with small businesses around Matthews.

Thoughtful selection of products from local small businesses and their peanuts truly are gourmet!

Ok, we just got these nuts at our Club in St Augustine (Palencia Club) omg, best I've ever had!

Went in today and so excited about this shop! Very good speciality food items. We tried a few samples..all wonderful. I bought some nuts to take on a girls trip as well as a few other things. Service was wonderful. Will definitely be back!

This is great stuff! We stumbled on Bear Food in downtown Matthews while strolling the shops. Crazy name doesn't reveal what it is, so trepidatiously we peeked in the window getting a sense it was some kind of food or gourmet shop. Anything chocolate piques our curiousity, so we entered. Glad we did. Now, we're going to be regulars. It's a little pricey, but the quality of what you're getting would be difficult to sell for less. For example, the chocolate covered peanuts are offered in two sizes, milk and dark all "double dipped," and believe me, you've never had chocolate dipped nuts with more delicious chocolate on them. We also bought the Queen City OG pretzels, zesty and can't stop at one bag. Wish these came in a Costco family size pack they're so good. I think the name, Bear Food, will prove a hindrance, but the quality may carry it. Tell your friends about Bear Food, as it deserves a long run. It's not something you find elsewhere. One final word: the owner has integrity. The website did not deliver on the promised 25% 1st time buyer offer, but when I questioned it, the owner promptly delivered with a smile and an apology, making good. I'm a grateful, happy, and repeat customer.

Bear Food has the most premium peanuts! They have the best flavors, the perfection crunch, and the most lovely staff and customer service!!

Hey I loved the place do many options I love it I came here with my uncle Adam Sellars he was such a fun uncle

Outstanding products and even better customer service. They do it right and you will not go wrong with any of the amazing products.

High quality products. Great staff

Great food and service. I will definitely be going back.

This is a great little shop. Love this place.