BDGS, LLC takes stock of its resources and acquires a 'Blue-Chip' brand

BCC Enterprises—the company that Franchises gourmet cookie retail stores, Blue Chip Cookies has been acquired by Loveland, Ohio based BDGS, LLC for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition includes Blue Chip recipes, trademarks, Franchise rights as well as company-owned stores and a nationwide mail-order and online business.

We are excited to build upon Blue Chip Cookies’ excellent reputation and presence in 11 markets nationwide,” says Greg Smith, CEO of BDGS, LLC. “Our goal is to make Blue Chip Cookies available to more consumers. Franchising, Internet, Company Stores and Corporate sales will all play an important role. Blue Chip is a great brand, and Blue Chip Cookies delivers the highest-quality gourmet cookies in the market place. With the skills and backgrounds of our Management team, our goal is easily within reach."

Currently Blue Chip cookies does over 3 million in revenues generated by the company owned retail stores, the franchises and online/phone mail order business.

In addition to nine franchise units around the country, the company owns four stores in the greater-Cincinnati, Ohio area located in the Kenwood Mall, Tri-County Mall, 580 Building on Walnut Street in downtown Cincinnati and Florence Mall.

New Owners Excited About the Opportunity!

Blue Chip Cookies are freshly-mixed, hand-scooped gourmet cookies, made from the highest quality ingredients with no preservatives. They are made fresh every day in each store-front location (company-owned stores and franchises). Each cookie contains a proprietary blend of ingredients. Currently there are 25 different cookie products that are in consistent distribution in retail stores/direct business. In addition to cookies, the retail stores offer muffins, brownies and other bakery products. All baked products are prepared from scratch in every store, every day.

“The Blue Chip name is well known in Cincinnati area, and we want that same recognition in cities around the country,” adds Bob Heine, Vice President of Area/Franchise development. “We feel this is a GREAT match because we’re investing in a local company that enables us to leverage our expertise in consumer goods, marketing and franchising.”

BDGS’ management team is comprised of business executives with years of expertise in consumer goods branding, sales and marketing as well as franchise and organizational development. Partnering together are Bob Heine, Donna Drury-Heine, Greg Smith and Sonia Smith, all residents of Loveland, Ohio. They have teamed up to continue to bring the ULTIMATE cookie experience to cookie lovers in Cincinnati and around the country. Their focus will be to expand the business and the Blue Chip Brand nationally through area development/franchise development, corporate sales, the Blue Chip Cookies online website and mail order business.

Mark Hanahan, President of BCC Enterprises, said "I had a great time watching Blue Chip Cookies grow, but I know that this team of management/owners will take the business to new heights."

Management will be moving the company headquarters from Edgewood, Kentucky to Loveland, Ohio ("The Sweetheart of Ohio) right on the Loveland bike trail which backs up to Loveland's beautiful park. Sonia Smith, Vice President of Leasing/Real Estate/Operations says, "It will be exciting to be part of the continued business development of downtown Loveland, OH and other communities as we grow the Blue Chip Cookie brand."

They are considering opening a fifth company-owned store locally. Furthermore, the company plans to extend the Blue Chip line of products to leverage equity in the brand name.

Donna Drury-Heine, President of Sales and Marketing, sums it all up as she explains, "Who could think of a better business than one that is fun, gives consumers the ULTIMATE in mouthwatering satisfaction, and stands up to its reputation as being the BEST!"

About Blue Chip

Founded in 1983 with its first store on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, Blue Chip Cookies distinguished itself by being the first cookie-chain retailer to offer a white chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookie. Thus the company began its history of offering innovative, new tastes in addition to the standard and much-loved chocolate chip cookie. Today, the company sells more than two dozen varieties of from-scratch cookies, brownies, and beverages, using only the highest- quality ingredients and no preservatives. Each location bakes all its cookies fresh daily. The gourmet cookie retail chain operates in eight states from California to Connecticut, with nine franchise stores and four company-owned locations in the greater Cincinnati area.

For convenience, shoppers can log on to Blue Chip Cookies’ website to place orders online. The company processes orders within 24 hours and ships within the continental United States.

BDGS is purchasing all trademarks, trade names, recipes, franchise rights/materials, current franchise contracts, four company owned stores, all fixed assets, mail order sales/1800#, web site domain name, current direct customer list, website pages, products ingredients and inventories of Blue Chip Cookies from BCC Enterprises.