The basics:

• David’s Cookies opens $25M, 100K-square-foot facility in Cedar Grove
• Site includes freezer space, test kitchen, new offices
• Expansion supports growing dessert lineup, foodservice reach
• Brand now operates 360K+ square feet across New Jersey

David’s Cookies, one of the best-known cookie brands in the foodservice industry, is celebrating the opening of a $25 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Essex County.

Located in Cedar Grove, the 100,000-square-foot site will expand the company’s ability to produce and distribute its range of high-quality, preservative-free cookies, cakes and desserts. The newly opened building includes freezer space with a combined capacity of 6,000 pallet slots, a test kitchen dedicated to research & development and new corporate offices.

Founded in 1979 by lawyer-turned-chef David Liederman as a single shop in New York City, David’s Cookies became popular for its fresh-baked cookies and quickly grew to 200-plus locations via franchising. The business thrived until the late 1980s, when increased operating costs forced many of those stores to close, according to the company’s website.

Recognizing the potential of the brand, Fairfield-based dessert company Fairfield Gourmet Food Corp. acquired David’s Cookies in 1989 and began transitioning the business from a retail concept to one focused on wholesale and co-branding.

Recipe for growth

Under Fairfield’s ownership, David’s Cookies evolved into a leading full-line dessert supplier producing a wide range of sweets, such as brownies, crumb cakes, muffin batters, thaw & serve muffins and cheesecakes. Its present-day lineup of over 1,000 quality bakery products for distribution also includes tarts, layer cakes, single-serve desserts, scones, cinnamon rolls, Danish, rugalach and gluten-free goodies.

In addition to serving the foodservice market, David’s Cookies continues to operate a consumer-facing e-commerce business. Its lineup of bundles, holiday baskets and corporate gifts regularly make favorite products lists from publications like The New York Post, Pioneer Woman and Taste of Home.

To help David’s Cookies diversify its product offerings and expand production capabilities, Fairfield has made a string of strategic acquisitions over the past 15 years, including Annie’s Euro American Bakery in 2011, Jeff’s Gourmet Pies in 2014 and Foxtail Foods in 2019.

As a result, David’s Cookies has grown from a mere 8,000-square-foot site in Fairfield to three manufacturing facilities totaling 360,000 square feet across New Jersey. The company also employs more than 1,000 workers. Additionally, it has a 130,000-square-foot factory in Cincinnati it took over as part of the Foxtail acquisition.

‘Setting the standard’

The newly unveiled location is adjacent to a $15 million, 250,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2013 to serve as its headquarters and main plant.

According to David’s Cookies, the older facility will remain open. It will continue to produce edible cookie dough, brownies, muffin batter, cinnamon rolls, crumb cake, European-style cookies, rugalach and scones.

A 60,000-square-foot site in Fairfield that came online in 2018 makes cheesecakes, cakes, tarts, muffins and dessert bars. It also has dedicated space for nut-free and dairy-free treats. Fairfield is also home to a 35,000-square-foot facility. That site produces gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free items, such as cookie dough, thaw & serve cookies, brownies and dessert bars.

David’s Cookies President and CEO Ari Margulies praised his workers “for coming together and making the business,” as well as his partners for their continued support. He also thanked March Associates Construction Inc. for keeping the project on budget and on time.

David’s Cookies was joined during a June 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony by several officials, including Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way; state Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-40th District; Cedar Grove Deputy Mayor Michele Mega; and Assemblyman Al Barlas, R-40th District.

Way believes it is “an incredible day” for the company and the state.

“This is truly a big milestone for this company, but it’s also great news for New Jersey’s food manufacturing industry. David’s Cookies is one of the best-known brands and you are setting the standard. This location will help you continue to deliver quality goods across the entire state,” she said. “… Simply put, all of you do rock. You have called New Jersey home for more than three decades and have employed hundreds of New Jersey workers throughout the years, so your presence indeed strengthens our communities and makes Jersey stronger.”

Community collaboration

Way also oversees the New Jersey Business Action Center in her capacity as secretary of state. She acknowledged her team for working with David’s Cookies to identify grants and provide permitting support for the project.

“We look forward to sharing the prosperity, which David’s Cookies will continue to have as you thrive here in the Garden State,” she said, adding, “… I cannot wait to enjoy some more of your big cookies for years to come.”

Hayley Edwards of Chik-fil-A described the fast-casual chicken chain’s relationship with David’s Cookies as “wonderful” and said they’re excited to see the new site open.

“We’ve had the pleasure of getting to work with them for years … They’ve been people we can always count on to take whatever we throw at them,” she said.