Charles Alfred Pillsbury (December 3, 1842 – September 17, 1899) was an American businessman, flour industrialist, and politician.

Pillsbury worked for six years as a clerk and partner in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at a mercantile enterprise.

He was drawn to business in Minneapolis after experiencing and observing the commercial interests in Montreal, which processed grain from the west.

At the time of Pillsbury's arrival, four or five flour mills, deriving their power from the Falls, were small in size and ground their grain with large buhr stones.

At his own mill, Pillsbury discarded the buhr stones, and introduced and improved on the newer practices.

He competed with milling concerns owned by Cadwallader C. Washburn, George Henry Christian and his brothers, and other millers in the production of what was called "new process" flour.

He was responsible for introduction and implementation of legislation recommended by his uncle, Governor John S. Pillsbury, regarding the state's bonds.

He declined other offers at political office including a nomination for mayor of Minneapolis out of concern for his business interests.

On December 6, 1878, twin sons Charles Stinson and John Sargent were born, and both of them lived into adulthood.