One woman turned a family recipe into an award-winning snack company, combining innovative branding, sustainable growth, and community support to deliver high-quality cheesy snacks and create new business opportunities.

In this episode of Clocking In, Phil Mintz, the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership director talks with Becca Jordan Wright, the CEO and founder of Piedmont Pennies, a gourmet cheesy snack manufacturer in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The company’s Original Sharp Cheddar Biscuit Bites recently won the small business category in the 2024 “Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina” contest sponsored by the NC Chamber. Launched in September of 2020, Piedmont Pennies sells snacks at more than 400 locations in about 35 states, in addition to online sales. Piedmont Pennies’ success has been featured in many news outlets and is an inspiring example of how family recipes and traditions can provide unique business opportunities with the right passion and commitment.

Wright shares her company’s journey, from its origins as a family recipe to its growth and expansion. Wright learned to bake the cheesy treats with her Grandbetty, using a family recipe that was a popular holiday gift. The idea to turn the recipe into a business came to her after making the snacks for her college friends and later for clients in Washington, DC. She wrote a one-page business plan and, with the opportunity to develop the business as an MBA project, she was able to put forth the necessary energy to take “Pennies to the People.”

The term used in the company’s branding, “Pinching Pennies”, was how Wright learned to ‘pinch pennies’ for holiday gifts, and was the handmade method for making the snacks before automating. Wright used to “pinch” the pennies as she placed the cheesy snacks on baking trays before baking. It also refers to the company’s bootstrapped approach and mindful scaling. The slogan “Stay Cheesin’” was introduced in 2020 to bring comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now a central part of the company’s identity.

The oven baked cheese snacks are available in original Sharp Cheddar, Parmesan & Herb, and Spicy Chipotle Cheddar and are sold online, shipping nationwide. The company utilized a byproduct of their packaging process, crumbs, to create a new product line called Penny Panko. This product line now comes in three flavors and is used in various recipes, including soups, salads, and casseroles.

The podcast conversation also touches on the importance of sustainable growth, customer-centricity, and the company’s commitment to quality and community support.

LINKS

NCMEP

Piedmont Pennies

Phil Mintz is the executive director of NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) and director of the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP). At NCMEP, Phil drives outreach to NC manufacturers, builds relationships with federal and state leaders, and coordinates efforts to drive profitable manufacturing growth in the state. He also leads the broader IES Extension Operations outreach unit of regional managers, technical specialists, and business development leaders providing business engagement, assessment, and improvement tools. This includes statewide peer networks, ISO 9000 quality management systems, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, environmental services, and health and safety solutions.

Becca Wright launched her company “Piedmont Pennies” in 2020 for an MBA class project to help the world “Stay Cheesin” during quarantine. Three months later, she turned down a job at Meta (formally Facebook) to pursue Piedmont Pennies full-time.

Today, Pennies is 100% female owned and operated in Charlotte, NC. The team bakes, packs, and ships Pennies nationwide, with over 400 retail partners in 35 states. Pennies mission is to bake quality snacks so you can spend quality time with those you love.

Becca mission is to help business owners find their purpose and growth their businesses beyond their wildest dreams through authenticity, connection, empathy.