Baking & Snack - December 2015 - 114

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

MAID WITH LOVE
Baker Maid releases a new line of hand-made indulgences with Love, Cookie.

Everyone loves a homemade cookie. After a frustrating day at work or a scraped
knee on the playground, the comforting embrace of a loved one and a good cookie is the perfect combination of sympathy and sweetness. New Orleans-based
Baker Maid tapped into this sentiment and built on it with its new line of handcrafted treats: Love, Cookie.
The inspiration for Love, Cookie came from an observed lack of craft and
innovation in the market of cookies sold in grocery stores, according to the
company. "The category has seemed stagnant in a way; it got boring," said
Greg Sorenson, Baker Maid's owner. "As a fourth generation family-owned
bakery, we knew we could provide a really delicious product and still remain
competitive enough on price to offer a good value to customers while giving
them an interesting, handcrafted alternative to mass-produced dessert items."
Baker Maid took great care in selecting indulgent flavor combinations
while still attempting to keep the cookies, as Mr. Sorenson described, "fun
and unpretentious." The line includes Dark Chocolate Orange, Midnight
Almond, Lemon Cooler, Almond Toffee Crunch, Espresso, Butter Pecan
Praline, Dark Chocolate Mint and Espresso Chocolate Chip varieties.
"That was the most important stage - setting the goal of creating something that we actually wanted to take home and eat after dinner or for a treat
during the day," Mr. Sorenson said. Baker Maid creates all of its extracts inhouse and locally sources raw materials in order to maintain freshness and a
homemade quality. The company also cooks all of its own toffee and makes
its own powdered chocolate coating.
Founded in New Orleans in 1953 by sugar chemist LL Doc Mullins, Baker
Maid offers king cakes, biscotti and other baked goods with a distinct "Big
Easy" flair. Mr. Sorenson expressed his desire for the company to stay true to
its family roots with Love, Cookie. "We are doing more than running a business at Baker Maid; it's an extended family, and we want you to taste the pride
and love in every cookie," he said.
Love, Cookie is currently stocked in grocery stores in the Gulf South region and also available for purchase online at www.lovecookie.com. The suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 3.5-oz package, about a dozen cookies. Mr.
Sorenson indicated that he wants to expand the line's availability in retail
stores but not at the expense of excellence. "Hopefully, one day, we will be
able to turn it into a national brand, but we are taking things one step at a
time," he said. "Quality is the most important factor; our growth needs to
accommodate that."
Love, Cookie is highly interactive on social media; the associated
Instagram and Facebook accounts are peppered with whimsical pictures and
suggested wine and ice cream pairings for specific cookie flavors. With a personal touch, Love, Cookie is bringing handmade treats out of the kitchen and
into the aisles of the grocery store.
Baker Maid brings a homemade touch to the cookie aisle with Love, Cookie.
Baker Maid
- Matt Hamer

114 Baking & Snack December 2015 / www.bakingandsnack.com

http://www.lovecookie.com http://www.bakingandsnack.com

Baking & Snack - December 2015

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