Sweet Pete's, a locally-owned candy shop in Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood, will appear on the season finale of the CNBC reality show The Profit, which focuses on saving failing businesses.
In a preview of the episode on CNBC.com, host Marcus Lemonis watches as Sweet Pete’s owners Peter and Allison Behringer argue with business partner Dane Baird.
Lemonis is the multi-millionaire owner of Camping World. On the show, which is in it’s second season, Lemonis helps turn around businesses that are struggling with serious problems.
Peter Behringer (the "Pete" of Sweet Pete's) said the episode focuses on a resolving a dispute between the Beringers and Baird.
"Allison, my wife sent in an application last fall and we were selected," he said. "It's kind of unexpected because we were one of eight out of 10,000 picked for this season."
Behringer couldn’t go into many details ahead of the Tuesday’s 10 p.m. premiere, but the show will focus on how Lemonis puts his own money on the line, investing in a business in exchange for a portion of the profits.
According to the show’s web site, Lemonis has turned around more than 100 businesses in the past 10 years.
Behringer said it was exciting to appear on the program and get the advice from a businessman as successful as Lemonis.
"It was unbelievable. You watch his show and he really transforms businesses and takes people and businesses to the next level and it was quite an experience," he said.
Sweet Pete’s opened in 2010 after the Behringers left Peterbrooke Chocolatier. Peterbrooke was founded by Peter’s mother Phyllis Lockwood in 1983. The family sold off part of Peterbrooke after it became a chain of stores in three states.
Since it's opening, Sweet Pete's has become a Springfield hot spot with it’s homemade candies made with cane sugar and other natural ingredients, sans artificial flavors and colors. Sweet Pete’s also hosts various events including field trips and candy making classes.
Sweet Pete’s episode of The Profit airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday on CNBC.
You can follow Kevin Meerschaert on Twitter @KMeerschaertJax.
