How wedding favour cookies sparked a $25m dessert empire

What began as a simple pursuit to create the ‘perfect chocolate chip cookie’ during date nights became the foundation of a booming dessert business for Doug and Sara Taylor.

The story began in 2015 when the couple’s shared passion for baking sparked countless experiments in the kitchen. Doug – on a mission to master the ultimate cookie recipe – drew inspiration from Sara’s upbringing on a farm where natural ingredients took precedence. Using a second-hand mixer, the couple spent date nights crafting cookies made with real butter, house-made syrups and no shortcuts – laying the foundation for what would become Taylor Chip’s signature quality.

In 2016, they created a website to share their homemade cookies with their guests – in lieu of more expensive traditional wedding favours – earning rave reviews. Encouraged by this response, they started selling their cookies at farmers’ markets, local events and other weddings.

What initially began as a weekend side hustle quickly outgrew its humble origins.

The meteoric rise

Taylor Chip was official launched in 2018 with a commitment to all-natural ingredients. Over six years, it’s experienced meteoric growth, generating over $4m in revenue in 2023 alone from an expanding menu of cookies, ice cream, coffee and vegan treats available at its five Pennsylvania locations. With an 80-member team and plans to open a 20,000 sq. ft. creamery next year, Taylor Chip’s valuation has climbed to an impressive $25m.

But the Taylors’ mission goes beyond profits. Their community-focused initiatives – like donating cookies to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – show their commitment to making an impact.

In this episode of Quick Bites, Doug Taylor shares his insight and advice on turning a dream into reality.

What were some key turning points that helped you transform Taylor Chip from a side hustle to the business it is today?

The pivotal turning point for us came in 2018 when we made the decision to go full-time with Taylor Chip. Prior to that, we were balancing other jobs while managing the business as a side project.

Once we committed to it fully, we saw a significant shift. Securing a larger space to accommodate growing production needs was another crucial moment, as it allowed us to meet demand and scale the business more efficiently. This combination of commitment and operational growth really catalysed our success.

What early lessons in branding and customer experience helped shape the brand’s unique identity?

One of the earliest and most valuable lessons we learned was the importance of fostering customer loyalty. It’s never just about selling a product – it’s about creating a memorable experience that keeps people coming back.

We placed a high value on perfecting the product, while also ensuring that every customer touchpoint reflected the quality and care we put into our cookies. By focusing on building genuine relationships with our customers, we were able to shape a brand that people could trust and feel connected to.

What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs who are trying to balance a new venture with other commitments?

Start small and focus on the long-term vision but accept that the road ahead will require a significant amount of dedication and sacrifice. There’s no substitute for hard work and as you’re balancing other commitments, time management becomes essential. If you’re passionate about your venture, the effort will pay off.

Also, don’t hesitate to lean on those who believe in your vision – building a supportive network is crucial when you're managing multiple responsibilities.

Can you share some details about what customers and partners can expect from your planned expansion next year and how it will impact your production capabilities?

The upcoming creamery is a huge milestone for Taylor Chip. Not only will it allow us to increase our production capabilities and meet growing demand, but we’re also introducing a retail and drive-through concept, which will give customers a unique, convenient way to enjoy our products.

We’ve always prided ourselves on creating a great customer experience and this expansion will take that to the next level by offering a dedicated space for people to come in, grab a fresh cookie or ice cream and get a taste of the Taylor Chip brand in a more personal way.

The new facility will allow us to improve operational efficiency, expand our product offerings – including ice cream – and continue to deliver the high quality our customers expect, all while increasing our reach into new markets.

Looking back on your journey, what has been the most rewarding part of building Taylor Chip?

Undoubtedly, the opportunity to create something from the ground up with my wife.

We complement each other’s strengths – I focus on the operational side, while she brings the creative vision. This collaboration has been instrumental in driving the business forward.

We’ve been able to work through challenges together, and our personal partnership has shaped both the culture and the growth trajectory of the company.

What can we expect from Taylor Chip in the future?

We’re focused on both product innovation and expanding our market presence.

Ice cream is just the beginning of our efforts to diversify our product line. We’re also working on introducing new flavours and exploring new product categories, including a line of packaged cookies for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) market. This is an exciting opportunity for us to reach a wider audience and get our products into even more homes.

We’re also continuing to focus on expanding our retail footprint and scaling our direct-to-consumer business, ensuring that we can reach customers in new locations while still maintaining the high standards of quality that Taylor Chip is known for.

During your journey, what was your worst mistake/biggest waste of money?

Looking back, I think the biggest mistake I made was not automating earlier. We were doing everything by hand in the beginning – from mixing and packaging to managing orders – and that really slowed us down.

As we grew, I realised that automating key parts of our operation would have allowed us to scale much faster. It took us a little too long to make that investment, but once we did, it really changed the game for us.

Automating not only saved us time but also reduced errors and improved consistency, making it one of the best investments we could have made.