CNBC Make It - Successful Sweets: From Crumbl Cookies To Tony's Chocolonely
Crumble Cookies, founded by Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley, grew from a small startup to a billion-dollar company by leveraging a unique rotating menu and strong social media presence. They started with no baking experience, self-funded their business, and expanded rapidly through franchising. Their strategy includes listening to customer feedback and using technology to enhance customer experience. Tony's Chocolonely, a Dutch brand, aims to make chocolate 100% slave-free. It was founded by journalists to address child labor in cocoa farming. The company uses unique packaging to symbolize inequality in the supply chain and partners with other brands to promote ethical sourcing. Despite not being profitable yet, Tony's focuses on growth and transparency. Lesser Evil Snacks, led by Charles Coristine, transformed from a struggling brand to a successful snack company by focusing on healthier, better-tasting products. They became vertically integrated to reduce costs and improve product quality. The company emphasizes a positive lifestyle and aims for significant growth in the future.
Key Points:
- Crumble Cookies uses a rotating menu and social media to drive customer engagement and growth.
- Tony's Chocolonely focuses on ethical chocolate production, aiming for a slave-free supply chain.
- Lesser Evil Snacks emphasizes healthier snack options and vertical integration to improve margins.
- Crumble's success is partly due to customer feedback and technology integration.
- Tony's Chocolonely partners with brands like Ben & Jerry's to expand ethical sourcing.