Teen's Pretzel Brand Sells Direct in Fargo

Small food producers can test flavours and pricing through markets and events before committing to retail placement.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold vector editorial illustration of a single golden pretzel standing upright on a cream field above a flat sage prairie horizon. — Connor Arbach, 13, sells his homemade seasoned pretzels under the Twistology Pretzels brand for $2 a bag at markets and events in Fargo. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should communities do more to support young people starting their own small businesses?

Connor Arbach, a 13-year-old in Fargo, North Dakota, sells homemade seasoned pretzels under the Twistology Pretzels brand at $2 per bag. The youth-owned business has begun appearing at local markets, pop-up stalls and community events in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Why it matters

A youth-run food business selling direct to local shoppers shows how a low-cost, small-batch product can reach customers through markets and community events rather than retail shelf space. For operators, it highlights the value of simple pricing, a focused flavor range and in-person sampling as a path to local visibility.

Twistology sells seasoned pretzel bags for $2 each across seven flavours, including Ranch, Dill Pickle and Twisted Churro. No sales volume, revenue, or growth comparison has been disclosed for the business.

The players

Twistology Pretzels

A youth-owned seasoned pretzel business based in Fargo, North Dakota, selling bags at $2 through local markets and community events.

Connor Arbach

The 13-year-old founder who develops the seasonings and takes part in baking, seasoning and packaging the pretzels.

The details

Connor Arbach develops the seasoning recipes, seasons the pretzels, bakes them and packs the finished bags, with his family helping behind the scenes. He first sold his pretzels by leaving them in the breakroom at his mother's workplace before expanding to markets, pop-up stalls and community events. The model relies on direct, in-person selling at a low unit price, which keeps entry costs and inventory commitments small.

Connor began developing the pretzel business and flavours at age 12.
Connor first sold pretzels for $2 in his mother's workplace breakroom.
Twistology now appears at local markets and community events in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Market Landscape

Small-batch food sellers in the Fargo-Moorhead area commonly reach customers through farmers markets and pop-up stalls before committing to retail placement. Twistology follows that same entry path with a single product line and a $2 price point.

Small food operators can test flavours and pricing through direct sales at markets and events before scaling production or seeking retail placement. Reviewing per-unit pricing against ingredient and packaging costs is a practical first step for any small producer entering this channel.

The takeaway

Direct in-person sales at markets and community events let a small producer test demand at a low price point with minimal upfront investment. Operators considering a similar launch should track sales per event and per flavour to decide which products justify expanding production.