bake - November/December 2024 - 33

FROZEN-TO-THAW
BANANA PUDDINGS
was opportune as well - the Taylors entered the
market when convenient, handheld baked
goods like cookies were beginning a boom
period.
Building a following through social media
and positive reviews, Taylor Chip was able
to quickly grow its customer base. Sara
and Doug used their previously acquired
business skills in branding and marketing to
keep prices low, especially factoring in the cost
of high-quality ingredients.
" We don't want our customers to eat anything
we wouldn't eat, " Doug says. " Everything we do,
we do in consideration of ourselves and what
we would like to eat. We have that betterfor-you
approach naturally. That and our
story combined, helps us continue to take
market share and is why we're on path to
over double our business again this year. "
In 2019, Taylor Chip launched its
e-commerce experience. The Taylors tout
their website ordering experience as one of the
first in the desserts industry to bring the inside-thestore
retail approach online. The site allows customers
to choose a half or full dozen, fully customized with the cookies they
want in the box. While other businesses focus on specific bundles,
Taylor Chip once again focuses on what its owners would want in its
customer approach.
Doug has a background in web design. He custom coded the site,
which combined with marketing experience, helped them to save
money in the early years of the business.
The Taylors received a true " rocket launch " moment in their business's
history in the early stages of COVID. In 2020, Dave Portnoy of
Barstool Sports fame tried the bakery's cookies live on video. He rated
it highly for a cold cookie and told them he was saving the cookies for
later because of how much he enjoyed them. That exposure led to a
flood of orders that hasn't gone back down in the following four years.
Taylor Chip now has seven locations, all in Pennsylvania, with a
6,000-square-foot centralized manufacturing facility. All retail and
e-commerce products are made and shipped out from there. The
company also does local delivery through DoorDash and its own
website, and now has its products in close to 200 retail locations
through its CPG and wholesale program that was launched in June.
Chips for Success
Taylor Chip offers about 25 flavors at any given time, with staples, rotating
options and limited-time offers (LTOs). These special releases bring a
ton of appeal to the brand and often reflect the tastes of the season.
Magnolia Bakery has announced a new line
of frozen-to-thaw Banana Puddings, an airy,
whipped frozen dessert that's made with real
bananas, naturally flavored and does not melt
when thawed from frozen in the refrigerator. The
company expects this new line to contribute more
than 15% of its annual revenue.
To bring this product to market, the Magnolia
Bakery team worked for over three years to
create a banana pudding that met the brand's
high product standards and met consumers'
needs. Magnolia Bakery's fresh banana pudding
sold worldwide cannot be frozen or kept for later
because banana slices cannot be frozen and thawed
without turning brown and changing texture. To
answer the challenge, the company innovated a
new formulation, still using real bananas, but that
allows the product to be frozen and thawed.
Magnolia Bakery's frozen-to-thaw Banana
Puddings are available in three flavors in 14-ounce
cups - Wafer Cookie Bits, Chocolatey Hazelnut Swirl
and Red Velvet Cookie Bits. As of Dec. 1, a 3-ounce
version of Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
- Wafer Cookie Bits will also be served onboard
United Airlines' domestic first-class meal program.
Retail partners for the new line include
DoorDash, Wonder, Amazon Fresh, GoPuff, United
Airlines, and in airports in partnership with OTG
and WHSmith and more.
Last year, Magnolia Bakery sold more than 2.2
million cups of the dessert and fans have been
asking for wider availability. Additionally, a recent
brand survey found that 67% of responders said
they're " very likely " to purchase banana pudding if
it were available more often.
" The launch of this new frozen-to-thaw Banana
Pudding product line will be a cherished milestone
in Magnolia Bakery's storied history, " says Bobbie
Lloyd, chief executive officer and chief baking
officer of Magnolia Bakery. " As we continue to
build towards the future on our successful 28year
foundation as one of America's most beloved
bakeshops, our new Banana Pudding innovation
will not only elevate the experiences of our loyal
customers but also introduce new ways for people to
connect with our brand. This has been a career-long
dream for me and I'm so proud that we developed a
product that is true to our brand DNA. "
bakemag.com | NOV-DEC 2024 > 33
http://www.bakemag.com
bake - November/December 2024

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