Southern-Style Peach Cobbler - Aunt Evelyn's Peach Cobbler
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Evelyn Bruce, founder of Aunt Evelyn's Peach Cobbler, located in Lawrenceville, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Aunt Evelyn’s Peach Cobbler is a top seller in Metro Atlanta restaurants and stores. Based on the family recipe, I have crafted a delectable Southern delicacy that is second to none. Our customers consistently state that it reminds them of the down-home dessert they grew up enjoying. I stay loyal to that recipe and make my cobblers fresh daily with only a handful of honest ingredients, including ripe Georgia peaches, pure vanilla extract, and whole butter. Our products are vacuum sealed before freezing to maintain quality. Products are shipped packed in dry ice or Freezer packs, either 2-day ground or overnight.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up in South Georgia and spent my summers amongst the fruit trees and berry bushes on my grandmother Iva’s farm. After picking fresh peaches, I would watch my grandmother roll out fresh dough for the crust, cook down the peaches on a wood-burning stove and build her cobblers, which would fill the house with the fragrance of vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon before emerging golden-brown and bubbly from the oven. Over the years, the recipe was passed down to my mother and finally to me. I stay loyal to that recipe and make my cobblers fresh daily with only a handful of honest ingredients, including ripe Georgia peaches, pure vanilla extract, and whole butter. This is what a true, down-home peach cobbler is supposed to taste like.
My son David grew up cherishing my desserts and always enjoyed sharing them with his friends. The peach cobbler seemed to resonate the most with my many tasty treats. For the last 20 years, both of us have been inundated with requests from family, friends, and acquaintances. After leaving his job in 2018, he approached me about starting a business selling my pies. We believe Aunt Evelyn’s pies are the best in the pre-made food industry. It is our mission for everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy these amazing desserts.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Company sales have grown steadily since its founding in January of 2019, doubling sales from 2019 to 2020 and doubling again from 2020 to 2021. With the addition of a co-packer and the marketing reach of the QVC network, we believe we will top two million dollars annually within the next three years.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The current pandemic has been very challenging for us. The fallout from COVID's impact has caused some of our wholesale clients to close, and others had to cease purchasing orders. Additionally, our ingredient and supply prices have increased by as much as 25% since the beginning of 2022, resulting in reduced profit margins. We are optimistic things will turn around once the economy recovers.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Sit down and write out a business plan before spending one dollar.
- Get a mentor.
- Know your numbers.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I am committed to providing high-quality dessert products consisting of pies and cobblers on both a wholesale basis to restaurants and via e-commerce sales to retail customers. A large portion of sales has come from popular online portals such as Goldbelly, Ezcaterer, GrubHub, and UberEats. Additionally, we have been invited to appear on the QVC shopping network in July 2022.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://auntevelynspeachcobbler.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auntevelynspeachcobbler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntevelynspeachcobbler/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuntPeach
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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