Lilla Swedish Candy opens retail location in Thornes Marketplace

NORTHAMPTON — Lilla Swedish Candy, which operated as an online seller, has opened its first retail location inside Thornes Marketplace, bringing imported Swedish confections and Scandinavian home goods to the area.

Owners Nic Jansson and Holly Berrigan, a married couple, started the candy business last April after Jansson, who was born in Stockholm, recognized growing demand for Swedish candy in the United States. The couple also owns a natural wine brand called MYSA and two other businesses.

Jansson said his sister, who owns a retail shop on Cape Cod and was also born in Sweden, told him that Swedish candy was becoming popular as a wholesale item. "I did some research and realized that Swedish candy is kind of having a moment in the States right now," Jansson said. "Because we have a little bit of startup, business and import experience, we started the brand last April."

After running the candy business online for a year, Lilla, which means small or little in Swedish, grew to become the couple's largest venture. "It was meant to be kind of a foray into Swedish candy, and now it's kind of our largest business," said Berrigan. "It was meant to be an extra one, and now it's the one we are focusing on the most."

The shop offers pick-and-mix Swedish candy, pre-packed selections, and curated bundles. All candy is sourced from Sweden and is non-GMO, artificial-dye-free, vegan, gluten-free, and compliant with European Union food regulations. Jansson noted that Swedish candy often features different flavors and textures than American varieties due to fewer synthetic dyes and different production methods.

Jansson has childhood memories of the Swedish tradition of lördagsgodis, or "Saturday candy," when families would visit candy shops on weekends. "Traditionally you go, and I used to do this as a kid, you go to the store on Saturdays, and you make your little bag, go home, read a book, watch a movie," he said.

The store occupies space on the first level of Thornes Marketplace and includes an upstairs section designed to evoke a traditional Swedish cottage. Berrigan said the couple was inspired by a family cottage in Sweden that they visit every summer. "We weren't really planning to do that, but the space was just so big," she said. "All the houses have that red look and the blue door. It genuinely feels like the inside of the family cottage."

Beyond candy, the shop sells Scandinavian-themed home goods and cultural items. Berrigan and Jansson said Thornes was easy to work with and offered an ideal location. The couple opened ahead of the holiday season and into February.