Cookie Plug to open 1st store in Puerto Rico
Cookie Plug, a new cookie concept baking fresh “fat stacks” daily, has recently announced its entrance into Puerto Rico, marking the brand’s first expansion outside of the United States mainland.
This announcement comes after franchise development group Borisweets purchased the area development rights to all of Puerto Rico for Cookie Plug, the company announced.
The first Cookie Plug location in Puerto Rico will be on Ashford Avenue, in the Condado sector of San Juan and is expected to open in January. It will have nearly 1,000 square feet of space, through an initial investment of about $100,000. The location is expected to create 20 jobs, and the area was selected to serve as springboard to attract both local residents and the thousands of tourists who visit the island daily.
“We’re thrilled to be joining the Cookie Plug team and cannot wait to open our first location in San Juan,’ said CEO of Borisweets and Acai Express, Hector Westerband. “Our team was attracted to the Cookie Plug concept after seeing how unique their product is as well as how their franchise model is designed to be opened and operated so efficiently.”
Westerband added that Cookie Plug founder Eric Martinez is of Puerto Rican descent, which helped create a connection between the two entrepreneurs that facilitated the arrival of the new franchise on the island.
Westerband brings to the table previous experience opening more than 50 Acai Express locations across both Puerto Rico and the United States, “making him the perfect candidate to help with Cookie Plug’s international expansion,” said Cookie Plug CEO Chris Wyland
“As the cookie industry continues to grow, we couldn’t be more excited to have Hector and his team join our brand and help Cookie Plug expand internationally,” said Wyland. “We’re looking forward to providing delicious, unique cookies to so many new communities across Puerto Rico and we know they will love our cookies as much as we do!”
Founded in 2019, Cookie Plug offers a concept is inspired by graffiti, street art and hip-hop culture, “creating a vibe that is unmatched.” The brand serves up extra-thick cookies, known as “phatties,” that are baked fresh daily at every location.
Each Cookie Plug location offers 16 daily cookie flavors with names such as SnooperDoodle (snickerdoodle), Pixie Junkie (sugar cookie), Purple Haze (purple velvet), The Mac Daddy (white chocolate chip macadamia nut) and of course, the OG (chocolate chip). The Cookie Plug even has four carb-friendly keto flavors, including Kitt, (chocolate chip), Black Magic (chocolate), Bart (peanut butter chocolate), and Calvin (snickerdoodle).
In addition to its cookies sold in store, Cookie Plug also offers cookie dough fundraising, catering, and free nationwide shipping.
While the brand uses cannabis slang to name all its cookies, Cookie Plug’s cookies are 100% kid-friendly and do not contain any cannabis, THC or CBD, executives said.
Including the franchise fee, the initial investment for a Cookie Plug location ranges from $94,450 to $158,300.
Initial plans for the franchise in Puerto Rico call for the opening of 20 locations in several parts of the island in the coming years. Each opening will require an investment between $150,000 to $200,000 and entail the creation of 10 to 15 jobs.
