From Sunday Shifts to Whole Foods: Building a Cookie Dough Brand

Kathryn Bricken grew up in a family of six where early responsibility and earning her own money shaped how she viewed work and value. Sunday shifts at Publix, paid at time and a half, taught her how to think strategically about income long before she became a founder. What began as a love of food evolved into building Doughlicious, a gluten-free cookie dough brand now sold at Whole Foods, Target, and major retailers nationwide. Along the way, she learned that scaling a consumer brand means making uncomfortable decisions about spending, manufacturing, and carrying the responsibility of dozens of paychecks. Her message: saving matters, but knowing when to invest in growth is what turns a passion into a lasting business.