Great American Cookies is a chain of independently owned and operated franchised stores that specialize in gourmet cookies. It is a franchise brand in the portfolio of Global Franchise Group. With more than 290 stores in the U.S., Great American Cookies stores are most commonly based in malls nationwide, particularly in the Southeast. The company’s headquarters are based in Atlanta. year founded 1977
Contents |
Great American Cookie Company was founded by future CEO Michael Coles[1] and partner Arthur Karp, who each invested $4,000 to develop a business selling gourmet cookies on the strength of an old family recipe passed on to Karp by his grandmother.[2] That same year the first store opened in Atlanta’s Perimeter Mall, which continues to operate to this day.[3]
Coles and Great American Cookie Company were initially met with rejection from mall owners and managers. Leasing space was denied under the assumption that the cookie concept would fail outside of east and west coast markets. The first store in Perimeter Mall became successful in its first month, and the company, renamed Great American Cookies in 1985, first became franchised a year after its opening.[4]
When Coles sold Great American Cookies to Mrs. Fields Famous Brands in 1998, the company had sales of over $100 million.[5]
On January 29, 2008, Great American Cookies was acquired by NexCen Brands Inc. for its Quick Service Restaurant portfolio, which included sister companies Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery and Pretzelmaker. Since July 2010, this portfolio of brands has been owned by Global Franchise Group, LLC, an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, and managed by GFG Management. [6]
Great American Cookies recipes and production originate at its batter facility in Atlanta. Both traditional and original cookie flavors are offered at its stores, including: Original Chocolate Chip, Original Chocolate Chip with M&Ms, Peanut Butter with M&M’s, Peanut Butter Supreme, Sugar, Snickerdoodle, White Chunk Macadamia Nut, Chewy Chocolate Supreme, Chewy Pecan Supreme, Double Fudge, Oatmeal Walnut Raisin, Domino and Pecan Supreme.[7]
In addition to cookies, stores also specialize in selling fudge brownies which come in original flavors such as cheesecake and German Chocolate, and cookie cakes that are commonly used for celebrations and special occasions.[8]