{
  "id": 13699941,
  "title": "I started a cookie business and scaled too quickly. We got caught up in a growth-at-all-costs mentality — here's how I turned it around.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/i-started-a-cookie-business-and-scaled-too-quickly-we-got-caught-up",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-11T11:08:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/how-partake-foods-founder-denise-woodard-scaled-small-business-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Denise Woodard, founder of Partake Foods, recounts how her company's rapid growth led to a lesson in scaling wisely. After her daughter Vivienne's life-threatening food allergies, Woodard launched Partake Foods to provide allergy-friendly treats. Initially, the company sold cookies out of Woodard's car, using grassroots marketing like demos at local events and grocery stores. Storytelling played a crucial role in building the brand, even attracting investors like Marcy Venture Partners. However, the company's aggressive expansion in 2019 led to costly infrastructure and a loss of control over unit economics. When sales slowed, Woodard realized the importance of a balanced approach to growth. Now, Partake Foods is expanding into protein and fiber granola, and partnering with the Girl Scouts, a testament to the brand's cultural capital. Woodard emphasizes that cultural relevance and trust are more valuable than sheer size.",
  "summary": "Inspired by her daughter's allergies, Partake Foods founder, Denise Woodard raised millions, overcoming growth challenges with storytelling skills.",
  "key_points": [
    "Denise Woodard founded Partake Foods after daughter's food allergies.",
    "Aggressive expansion in 2019 caused costly infrastructure and loss of control.",
    "Partake Foods now partners with Girl Scouts, valuing cultural relevance over size."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}