Love is sweet, and so is the story of Taylor Chip, a cookie company that has turned a passion for baking into a thriving business. Founded in 2015 by Sara and Doug Taylor in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, Taylor Chip is known for its gooey chocolate chip cookies made with real butter and no high fructose corn syrup.
The couple’s journey began with their shared love for chocolate chip cookies, inspired by a recipe from a friend’s mother. While baking together, they decided to swap Crisco for butter, reflecting Sara’s upbringing on a farm that prioritized real ingredients. As their relationship blossomed, so did their cookie-making skills. They received rave reviews from family and friends, which inspired them to launch their business.
The Birth of a Cookie Empire
On the night of their wedding in 2016, Sara and Doug gifted their guests with large cookies as favors, marking the official launch of Taylor Chip. “We never saw this as a viable business. We didn’t do market research,” Doug recalls. They started by selling cookies at events and farmers’ markets, leveraging their $5,000 savings and credit cards to fund the initial $15,000 investment.
The timing was right; the market was ripe for convenient, handheld baked goods. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and a commitment to customer satisfaction, Taylor Chip quickly gained a following through social media and positive word-of-mouth.
Innovative E-Commerce and Rapid Growth
In January 2019, Taylor Chip launched its e-commerce platform, allowing customers to customize their cookie orders. Doug, with his web design background, created a user-friendly website that mirrored the in-store experience. This innovation set them apart in the dessert industry.
The business experienced a “rocket launch” moment during the early days of COVID-19 when Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports praised their cookies in a live video. This exposure led to a surge in orders that has continued to grow.
Today, Taylor Chip operates seven locations in Pennsylvania and a centralized manufacturing facility. They offer local delivery through DoorDash and have expanded their retail presence to nearly 200 locations.
A Flavorful Approach to Cookies
Taylor Chip features about 25 cookie flavors, including seasonal specialties. The Taylors emphasize the importance of consistency, offering tried-and-true flavors alongside limited-time options. Their approach to baking ensures dense, gooey cookies by using a long baking time at a lower temperature, locking in moisture.
Doug and Sara have learned valuable lessons over the years, particularly about the importance of automation in fulfilling orders. Their commitment to building the business without debt has allowed them to grow significantly, but they recognize that leveraging finance could have accelerated their expansion.
Expanding the Brand: Ice Cream and Beverages
Not content with just cookies, the Taylors are on a mission to create a dessert empire that includes cookies, coffee, and ice cream. They are currently developing a 20,000-square-foot creamery capable of producing 40 pints of ice cream per minute. Their ice cream will feature cookie flavors and be made with organic Pennsylvania dairy, without artificial additives.
Initial ice cream flavors include:
- Vanilla: A blend of Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla.
- Chocolate: Rich chocolate ice cream made with the same cocoa as their cookies.
- Strawberry: Fresh strawberry jam without artificial dyes.
- Snickerdoodle: Cinnamon sugar ice cream with Snickerdoodle cookie pieces.
- S’mores: Graham cracker-flavored ice cream with chocolate chips and marshmallow fluff.
- Sweet Potato Casserole: A Thanksgiving-inspired flavor with sweet potato purée and candied pecans.
Conclusion
Taylor Chip’s success story is a testament to the power of passion, quality ingredients, and innovative thinking. By focusing on what they love and creating products they believe in, Sara and Doug Taylor have built a beloved brand that continues to grow. Their journey is a reminder that with hard work, creativity, and a commitment to excellence, sweet success is within reach.
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