Our Story

In 1986, with only one small batch roaster and three employees cooking peanuts, Marion Smith and his son Craig opened the doors to Whitley's Peanut Factory, which still stands as a retail store off Route 17 in Gloucester, VA. Due to high demand, they soon opened a second retail location in Williamsburg, VA, and a new production facility in Hayes, VA. In 2017 Whitley's opened a third retail location in Richmond, VA and a second Distribution Center in Gloucester County, which gave them an additional 10,000 sq. feet. Thirty-five years and millions of peanuts later, Whitley's Peanut Factory has become a local staple for "Home-Cooked" Virginia peanuts and peanut confections. Todd Smith, now president, continues his family's legacy of cooking Virginia peanuts to golden perfection.

The Whitley Difference
For over 35 years, Whitley's Peanut Factory has been producing the finest quality gourmet Virginia peanuts on the market. Whitley's "Home-Cooked" peanuts have a wonderful, crunchy freshness and distinctive flavor because our peanuts are still made the old-fashioned way, slowly hand cooked to perfection.

We choose only the highest quality, super extra-large Virginia peanuts which are hand selected for their size and freshness. Each batch is individually cooked with proven, traditional recipes to ensure the crisp, fresh flavor and unique taste for which our peanuts are famous. We are very proud to have been selected by the National Association for Specialty Food Trade as a Finalist in the Outstanding Hors D'oeuvres or Snack Food category. We offer you only the finest products available and we combine our fine quality with good, quick service.

We are proud to have been selected as a member of the Virginia's Finest program, which supports and promotes Virginia manufactured products. The display of Virginia's Finest logo on our packaging confirms our status as producers of some of the finest quality products Virginia has to offer.