Table of Contents
The Cookie Dough Café is a business featured in Season 5 of the hit reality TV show Shark Tank. The business, founded by sisters Joan Pacetti and Julia Schmid, specializes in gourmet, edible cookie dough that is safe to consume raw.
Cookie Dough Café responded to a gap they identified in the marketplace: a safer, more convenient alternative to traditional cookie dough that could be consumed raw without health concerns.
Their cookie dough product is unique in several ways. It is made with pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour, eliminating the risk of salmonella or E. coli often associated with consuming raw dough.
It’s a dessert that can be eaten straight from the jar without baking. It’s also versatile, perfect for homemade desserts or ice cream topping. The Cookie Dough Café offers a variety of flavors, from classic chocolate chips to cookies and cream.
The Cookie Dough Café is a good choice for several reasons. The convenience and versatility of this product contribute to its popularity. The product is ready to eat for those with a sweet tooth and can be stored in the refrigerator for a quick dessert or snack.
It’s also a safe option for those who love raw cookie dough but are concerned about the potential health risks. The Cookie Dough Café’s product also caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences due to its wide range of flavors.
The quality of its ingredients is another reason for its appeal. The Cookie Dough Café prides itself on using high-quality ingredients without artificial preservatives or additives, offering consumers a relatively guilt-free indulgence.
Its successful appearance on “Shark Tank” has increased its visibility and popularity, making it an interesting option for anyone wanting to try out a product featured on the well-known show.
| Company Name | Cookie Dough Café |
| Entrepreneur | Julia Schmid and Joan Pacetti |
| Product / Business | Cookie dough that tastes like gourmet |
| Investment Asking For | $50,000 for 20% equity in Cookie Dough Café |
| Final Deal | $100,000 for 30% equity in Cookie Dough Café |
| Shark | Lori Greiner and Steve Tisch |
| Cookie Dough Café Episode | Season 5, Episode 24 |
| Cookie Dough Café Business Status | In Business |
| Cookie Dough Café Website | Visit Website |
| Cookie Dough Café Net Worth | $5 Million |
What Is Cookie Dough?
The Cookie Dough Café is a unique food establishment specializing in edible, gourmet cookie dough. Their raw cookie dough is egg-free and made with heat-treated flour, which makes it a safer alternative to traditional cookie dough.
The Cookie Dough Café is an innovative food business primarily in gourmet edible cookie dough. Their venture offers a unique twist on the traditional cookie dough as their product is completely safe to eat raw. It’s achieved by using an egg-free recipe and incorporating heat-treated flour to eliminate potential food safety concerns.
Cookie Dough Café product range boasts a variety of flavors, including the classic chocolate chip, sumptuous cookies and cream, the colorful confetti (a sugar cookie with sprinkles), and for the adventurous palate, the monster, a peanut butter base mixed with oats and M&M’s.
The Cookie Dough Café products are distributed in various formats, such as single-serve cups, mini cookie dough bites, and pints. These can be purchased at select grocery stores around the United States.
The company also facilitates online ordering for those who can’t find the products locally, with shipping available nationwide. This makes it convenient for cookie dough lovers everywhere to indulge in their favorite treat whenever they wish.
The Cookie Dough Café is a paradise for those who appreciate the simple joy of tasting cookie dough straight from the mixing bowl.
Who Is The Founder Of Cookie Dough?
The Cookie Dough Café was founded by sisters Joan Pacetti and Julia Schmid. Born into a family with a background in the restaurant industry, both sisters grew up with an innate passion for food.
Joan holds a degree in restaurant management, which equipped her with the knowledge necessary for running a food business. Julia, on the other hand, has a background in marketing and communications, bringing a complementary skill set to the venture.
The idea for The Cookie Dough Café originated from their shared love of cookie dough. As children, they often found themselves enjoying the raw dough more than the actual cookies.
They developed a product that could cater safely to those who enjoyed eating cookie dough as much as they did despite the risks of raw eggs in traditional cookie dough.
After much trial and error, they successfully created a pasteurized egg and heat-treated flour cookie dough that could be eaten safely right out of the jar.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, The Cookie Dough Café was already making strides. The product was sold in select stores nationwide and through their online shop, but the sisters sought to scale their distribution.
They were working hard to introduce their unique product to a broader audience, overcoming the challenge of educating consumers about the safety and deliciousness of their edible cookie dough.
It was a growing business, but the exposure from Shark Tank offered an unprecedented opportunity to catapult their product into the mainstream. Despite their success, the sisters knew they needed a boost to reach their ambitious goals, which led to their decision to appear on the show.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Cookie Dough?
When Joan Pacetti and Julia Schmid appeared on “Shark Tank,” they sought a $50,000 investment in return for a 20% stake in The Cookie Dough Café, valuing the company at $250,000.
Their presentation was well-prepared, and their edible cookie dough product was unique and innovative, immediately capturing the Sharks’ attention.
The sisters started by explaining their product, highlighting the safety and convenience of their gourmet, edible cookie dough.
They also offered a taste test, providing each Shark with a spoon and a jar of their cookie dough. This was a great move, as the Sharks enjoyed the product. The financial aspects of the business were also discussed.
The business was already doing well then, with over $500,000 in sales in just over a year and retail placement in stores across several states.
However, the sisters expressed their struggles with large-scale distribution and manufacturing, so they sought an investment.
The Sharks were intrigued by the product but had some concerns. While some were worried about the narrow focus of the product, others felt that the valuation was slightly high given the current scale of the business.
Lori Greiner saw potential in the product but expressed concern about the sisters’ ability to scale the business quickly and effectively.
In the end, it was the Shark Robert Herjavec who saw the most potential in The Cookie Dough Café. He offered $50,000 for a 25% stake, slightly more equity than the sisters initially offered.
After considering the offer, Joan and Julia agreed to the deal, appreciating Robert’s business acumen and believing his expertise would be invaluable in taking The Cookie Dough Café to the next level.
Final Deal: Lori Greiner and Steve Tisch agreed to invest $100,000 for a 30% stake in Cookie Dough.
Did Cookie Dough Café Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, The Cookie Dough Café did get a deal on Shark Tank. Founders Joan Pacetti and Julia Schmid originally asked the sharks for an investment of $50,000 in return for 20% equity in their company.
They planned to use this money to automate production and increase distribution. The sharks tasted and enjoyed the samples of the cookie dough that the sisters had brought with them.
However, Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, and Mark Cuban decided not to invest. They were not impressed with the company’s sales numbers at the time and felt that the business was still in its early stage of development.
Lori Greiner was intrigued by the product and saw its potential. She proposed a 50/50 partnership with guest shark Steve Tisch, the New York Giants co-owner. They offered $100,000 for a 40% stake in The Cookie Dough Café.
Negotiations ensued, and eventually, all parties agreed to a deal for a $100,000 investment in exchange for a 30% stake in the company. Despite this agreement, Greiner and Tisch never went through with their investment. Nevertheless, the show’s publicity helped boost the company’s growth significantly.
What Happened To Cookie Dough After Shark Tank?
When Joan Pacetti and Julia Schmid appeared on “Shark Tank,” they sought a $50,000 investment in return for a 20% stake in The Cookie Dough Café, valuing the company at $250,000.
Their presentation was well-prepared, and their edible cookie dough product was unique and innovative, immediately capturing the Sharks’ attention.
The sisters started by explaining their product, highlighting the safety and convenience of their gourmet, edible cookie dough.
They also offered a taste test, providing each Shark with a spoon and a jar of their cookie dough. This was a great move, as the Sharks enjoyed the product. The financial aspects of the business were also discussed.
The business was already doing well then, with over $500,000 in sales in just over a year and retail placement in stores across several states.
However, the sisters expressed their struggles with large-scale distribution and manufacturing, so they sought an investment.
The Sharks were intrigued by the product but had some concerns. While some were worried about the narrow focus of the product, others felt that the valuation was slightly high given the current scale of the business.
Lori Greiner saw potential in the product but expressed concern about the sisters’ ability to scale the business quickly and effectively.
In the end, it was the Shark Robert Herjavec who saw the most potential in The Cookie Dough Café. He offered $50,000 for a 25% stake, slightly more equity than the sisters initially offered.
After considering the offer, Joan and Julia agreed to the deal, appreciating Robert’s business acumen and believing his expertise would be invaluable in taking The Cookie Dough Café to the next level.
Cookie Dough Shark Tank Update
After appearing on Shark Tank, The Cookie Dough Cafe made a deal with Lori Greiner and guest shark Steve Tisch. They agreed to invest $100,000 for a 30% stake in the company. However, this deal fell through after the show.
Despite this setback, The Cookie Dough Cafe continued to grow and expand its business. They introduced new edible cookie dough flavors and sold smaller sizes, which proved popular at events.
They also expanded their sales strategy to include online sales and distribution in various retail locations across the United States.
By 2023, The Cookie Dough Cafe’s products were available in thousands of stores across the country, including major retailers like Speedway, Pick’n Save, Harris Teeter, Market of Choice, Mariano’s Fresh Market, Cub Foods, Kroger, Echo Valley Meats, and Walmart. At one point, they were even available in Aldi’s refrigerated section.
The Cookie Dough Cafe offers a variety of cookie dough bundles for sale online, with prices ranging from $59 to $84, depending on the selected bundle.
Their product lineup includes eight flavors: Cookies N’ Cream, Chocolate Cup Mint, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Brownie Batter, Confetti Cake, Oreo, Naked Dough, and Everything But the Cookie.
Customers can choose from mini sizes (3.5oz) or jars (18oz), and bulk tubs containing 200 ounces of cookie dough are available.
The company also operates a brick-and-mortar location in Portland, selling unbaked cookie dough and ice cream. They have a good reputation among customers, with a 4.3-star rating on Google.
In addition to their commercial success, The Cookie Dough Cafe maintains an active social media presence. They regularly post updates on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @thecookiedoughcafe and have a regularly updated Facebook page.
Despite the initial deal falling through after their Shark Tank appearance, The Cookie Dough Cafe has successfully grown and expanded its business.
Is Cookie Dough Still In Business?
Our research shows that The Cookie Dough Café is still in business. Since its appearance on Shark Tank, the company has seen considerable success and growth. They have an estimated annual revenue of around $5 million, indicating a healthy and thriving business.
The brand’s products are now sold in various grocery chains and convenience stores across the United States. Customers can order directly from The Cookie Dough Café’s website or via Amazon.
The company has significantly expanded its production and distribution capacity after partnering with Lori Greiner and Steve Tisch on Shark Tank.
This has allowed them to fulfill large orders and reach a wider customer base. The partnership also afforded the company valuable connections and resources, contributing to its continued success.
What Is the Net Worth Of Cookie Dough?
According to our research, the net worth of Cookie Dough Café is estimated to be $5 million. The valuation of Cookie Dough Café was $333,333 after securing an investment from Lori Greiner and Steve Tisch on Shark Tank.
Also, read about other businesses that appeared on Season 5 of Shark Tank:
