Brownie Baker, Wholesale Bakery

ABOUT US

IN THE NEWS PRIMARY CONTACTS

Two sisters in Fresno, California established the Brownie Baker in 1979. Using a favorite family recipe, they baked brownies at their home and distributed them to local restaurants, markets, and delis. As the business grew, they added new brownie flavors and introduced cookies to their line. Their employee base increased and they moved to a commercial building with more appropriate equipment. By 1985, they were distributing throughout the Central Valley, from Bakersfield to Sacramento.

In 1990, Dennis Perkins purchased The Brownie Baker. He was working in Fresno as Director of Business Development for Pepsi-Cola. Pepsi offered him a promotion overseas, but he wanted to keep his young family in Fresno. A business broker introduced him to The Brownie Baker. Dennis’ background in sales and marketing, along with his contacts in the convenience store industry, helped him turn this small “mom and pop” business into an international corporation.

Dennis Perkins

First on the agenda was to reorganize the means of distribution. In order to expand at a progressive rate, we focused on distributors rather than direct route sales. Next, we surveyed the marketplace. In response to customer demand, high-end gourmet muffins were introduced and, later, increased product size. Attractive new colors, UPC codes, and the company logo were added to our labels. The Brownie Baker line was growing and becoming prominent in the bakery industry.

Sample of Current Product Line

In 1994, The Brownie Baker incorporated and made our first acquisition, Medical Meal Cookies. For the next five years, we produced these low-fat, health cookies for bariatric doctors all over the country. In August of 1996, we moved to our third building in six years. This new and current facility has 45,000 square feet of bakery and office space. This was quite an expansion considering our first building was only 2,800 square feet!

Current Facility

Cakes and Mexican Pastries were added to the line in late 1996. Shortly after, in November of 1997, The Brownie Baker made its most successful acquisition to date. We purchased a small but popular, Los Angeles based cookie company called Carol’s Cookies. This 5½ ounce, scratch-baked cookie was beating out our 4oz cookie in Southern California. Instead of trying to duplicate the recipe, as many companies do, The Brownie Baker looked into purchasing the company. We were lucky! Carol O’Toole, the proprietor, was ready to retire and sold us the company. This cookie has become a top seller!

Carol O'Toole

Our most recent additions are Danish and Mexican Pastries. We consistently add, update, and improve our product line and purchase new, high tech machinery to stream-line production and increase efficiency.