The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Kelly’s sweet success
A mum-of-two from Texas who rediscovered her passion for baking after relocating to the Granite City has started up her own sugar cookie business, writes Karla Sinclair
Kelly Breese, from Houston in Texas, launched her business Cookie Cookie after rediscovering her passion for baking during the pandemic. She relocated from her hometown to Aberdeen with her husband, Jordan, and their two daughters Kennedy, two, and five-month-old Henley, just nine days before the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020.
Kelly was made redundant from the oil and gas industry before the move.
Lockdown gave the avid baker plenty of opportunity to think up a business strategy, although a baking firm was not the first thing to spring to mind.
Kelly said: “After graduating from university in the States, I started my career in oil and gas, where I was in human resources for five years.
“With the downturn in the market, I was laid off and decided it was time to go my own path. My first step into entrepreneurialism was starting up my professional organisation business.
“I loved working for myself, being creative, and, most importantly, working my own hours. In 2019 I had our first daughter, Kennedy, and quickly switched to full-time-mum mode.
“Shortly after Kennedy was born, we made the decision to move to Aberdeen to raise her and continue to grow our family here. A few months after we uprooted to Scotland, at the end of 2020, we welcomed Henley.”
A BATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
A lover of southern food due to her roots, Kelly has long-term business goals which include possibly opening her own food truck one day, however, in the meantime, is steering all of her focus towards Cookie Cookie.
The talented baker produces customdecorated royal iced sugar cookie boxes – currently available in an original flavour – and cookie cakes that have proved extremely popular.
“Right now I have kept it simple and delicious,” she said.
“I created a recipe I loved and wanted to make sure the original was a hit before I expanded too quickly. I have tried a variety of other flavours, and I must say, they are good. I am hoping to announce other flavour options in both cookies and cookie cakes in the next few months.
“My whole goal of this business was and is to make delicious and creative treats that would bring a smile to people’s faces.
“After I perfected my recipe, thought of a name I liked, waited for the council’s approval and had a rough business plan, I officially launched on April 1 this year.
“I thought that this type of treat (sugar cookies) was something that just was not offered here. There are similar types of cookies, usually decorated with fondant icing, but none quite like mine in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire.
“I was able to bring a unique recipe that many people have not really had here. I often get asked, ‘what is a sugar cookie?’, so I saw the opportunity to get into the market before it became a trend like it is in the States.
“Our current offerings are custom decorated sugar cookie sets (by the dozen) and 12-inch single layer or double layer cookie cakes decorated with custom sugar cookies. But we may have a few more items on the menu by the end of the year.
“I’m also hoping to get my products in a select few cafes and farm shops in the near future, too.”
OVERNIGHT SUCCESS
Despite starting up a business in a new city, Kelly, who lives in Aberdeen, says she is “very proud” of her products.
“I am proud of how quickly this little business has grown and the amazing feedback I’ve received so far,” Kelly added.
“My whole goal of this business was and is to make delicious and creative treats that would bring a smile to people’s faces.
“No fuss or fancy logos, or gimmicky marketing campaigns – just a yummy product that would create a buzz and allow this little cookie company to grow organically. I think I have achieved that, but I continue to strive to improve every day.
“I use social media as much as I can to post pictures of my work to show my abilities, attend farmers’ markets so I can meet people face-to-face, and have donated cookies to a local school auction to help out.
“The rest has really been word of mouth as the product’s reputation has grown.”
MY WHOLE GOAL WAS TO MAKE DELICIOUS AND CREATIVE TREATS THAT WOULD BRING A SMILE TO PEOPLE’S FACES