Ree Ree’s Entrepreneurial Misadventures: How a Passion for Frozen Dough Evolved into a Cookie Startup
Hey there, cookie connoisseurs! Welcome to ReeRee's blog, where we're about to spill the beans on how this whole doughy adventure began. It's a tale of humble beginnings in a tiny kitchen, some questionable life choices, and the birth of your go-to source for scrumptious frozen cookie dough.
A Cookie Dough Dream
The Early Years
Picture this: Auburn University, where I discovered that making cookie dough is a secret weapon for fast-tracking friendships. I mean, who can resist your company when there are cookies in the oven? (Pro tip: this still works on my kids!) Then, after college, I packed up my cookie-loving dreams and headed to the Big Apple. The office became my new social experiment as I brought in batches of cookies – an ingenious ploy to keep coworkers around (don't judge, it's a bonding strategy).
But, let's face it, freshly baked cookies only retain their magic for a few days. It was in Brooklyn, while I was wandering around a kitchen store, that I spotted the game-changer – a cookie dough scoop. Why wasn't anyone freezing these bad boys and having fresh, hot cookies every night? I couldn't believe it took me so long to discover such a basic tool.
That's when my obsession with frozen dough began. Every single night, I was baking my homemade cookies to perfection. Cookies for guests, cookies for TV marathons, cookies for sports showdowns – it was a game-changer!
The Frozen Revelation
A Creative Experiment
Right on the brink of the pandemic, my kids were off to school, and I found myself with a bit of free time. That's when the deep dive into the perfect cookie began. Cake flour, bread flour, all-purpose flour – the great flour debate. Brown sugar or molasses? Unsalted or salted butter? And let's not forget the fat content in the butter. All the big questions, right? But then, I hit a chocolate roadblock. My kids loved milk chocolate, my husband was all about dark chocolate, and I, well, I couldn't choose. So, why not mix 'em all together? It was a revelation, a flavor mosaic that had everyone hooked.
From Kitchen to Store Shelves
Turning Passion into a Business
During the pandemic, our upgraded frozen chocolate chip cookie scoops took on a whole new meaning. Friends and family wanted in on the action. Knowing I was providing them with the joy of freshly baked cookies whenever they wanted made the world seem a little less chaotic.
It was during these moments that a mission started taking shape. Ree Ree’s Dough became my way of spreading love and comfort through good food. I had a chat with an ice cream shop owner in Atlanta (thanks, Jake!) who made me believe this could be a real product. So, I started mixing and scooping dough in the back of his shop, and things just took off from there.
Imagine walking into local grocery stores, cookie dough in hand, and asking for the buyer – nerve-wracking, right? But, it worked! My first buyer, David, from Candler Park Market bought ten scoops and wrote me a check. That silly piece of paper made me feel like this was a legit business. I did the same thing at Grant Park Market, Savi Provisions, and the Midtown Butcher Shoppe. But eventually, school hours couldn't contain my dough-making ambitions.
Then, something extraordinary happened. I won a Golden Ticket award at KeHE, a major nationwide distributor. I didn't fully grasp the significance until later.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Through some serendipitous events, I got the opportunity to pitch Ree Ree Dee's to The Fresh Market. I zoomed in from my bathroom during the meeting, hoping my kids wouldn't crash the party.
Months passed without much word, and then on Mardi Gras, I got the call – The Fresh Market wanted to carry our dough in all their stores! They were the ones who gave us our big break. Stores started showing interest, and soon enough, Whole Foods in the Southeast, 500 Krogers on the west coast, Bristol Farms, Nugget, and a few more were stocking Ree Ree Dee’s on their shelves. We're now in over 800 store fronts. It's nuts, right?
What Sets Us Apart
Ree Ree Dee’s Dough isn't just your run-of-the-mill cookie dough. We put our hearts into every batch, using simple, real, non-GMO ingredients. And here's the kicker – our frozen cookie dough stays fresh. Unlike refrigerated dough that starts to lose its charm once you crack it open, our frozen dough can be savored at your convenience, one heavenly cookie at a time. We're all about thoughtful ingredient sourcing and quality.
Spreading the Dough Love
Our Product Line
Our lineup includes everyday cookie dough favorites: Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar Cookie Dough. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is the undisputed crowd-pleaser, and we're committed to keeping it that way.
Baking Tips and Recipes
While we want to make your life easier with our ready-to-bake dough, we're all for encouraging your inner baking guru. Check out our recipes for ReeRee’s original baking tips, developed through decades of dough experimentation.
And there's more! We'll serve up some creative ideas on how to use our dough in other recipes. You can also sign up for our email newsletter for sweet promotions or even submit your own recipe.
Baking Memories Together
In technical terms, I'm a one-woman show. But in the grand cosmic scheme of things, it's not just me. Many hands have helped ReeRee’s Dough grow, from my buddy Dan selling dough at the Oakhurst Farmer’s Market to the folks at Cultivate who got me started. Today, I'm grateful for the challenges, the support, and the encouragement from friends, family, and customers. It's been quite a journey bringing ReeRee’s Dough from my kitchen to your home freezers.
I sincerely hope ReeRee’s Dough brings as many smiles to your homes as it did to mine. May each bite remind you of the simple joys in life and the comfort of homemade goodness!
If you would like to bake my original recipes you can find them on the Recipes page (feel free to comment with your baking tips there!) and Contact Me with any questions or requests!
