Few entrepreneurs can say they turned a passion for brownies into partnerships with brands like Honest Burgers, Formula 1, and Lego - but that’s exactly what Frankie, founder of Frankie’s Brownies, has achieved but that’s exactly what Frankie, founder of Frankie’s Brownies, has achieved. We caught up with Frankie to learn more about her journey, her delicious gluten-free creations, and what makes her brownies so irresistible.
Frankie, can you share the story behind Frankie’s Brownies and how your love for baking turned into a business?
Frankie’s Brownies was founded in lockdown 2020, in my mum’s kitchen in Elephant & Castle, South London. From my first postal listing on Etsy, to producing over 35,000 (and counting!) desserts for Honest Burgers - the sky is the limit! The business has since grown and has clients such as Honest Burgers, WeWork, Getir, Compare the Market, Formula 1 and Lego to name a few. At Women’s Enterprise Day, organised by Wandsworth Enterprise Hub, I was awarded the Rising Star Award, celebrating female entrepreneurship.
What makes Frankie’s Brownies unique compared to other brownie brands in the UK?
Frankie’s Brownies isn’t just about brownies, it’s about providing indulgent, gluten-free, sustainably-packaged treats that make corporate gifting and team celebrations effortless. We are female founded, with founder authenticity.
Did you always dream of starting your own bakery business, or was this an unexpected journey?
This was a completely unexpected journey for me, my career history spans multiple sectors such as social impact, diversity and inclusion, community management and working with young people to enrich their career prospects - I am not a trained chef by profession and this is something that I just completely fell into. It just goes to show that the career ladder is never just a straight line - you never know where life will take you!
Where did your passion for creating gourmet brownies come from?
No-one in the family ever used to bake, so I wanted to teach myself how to bake, using lots of online recipes, tweaking them and making them my own. I then realised I had the most perfect brownie recipe, which then ended up becoming my full time employment!
What’s your process for developing new brownie flavours at Frankie’s Brownies?
It's important to keep up with trends online, particularly using social media tools such as Instagram and TikTok to see what is trending, but also listening to your customers and community is super important! We do lots of polls online to see what people want to see on our menu next, we like to collaborate with other food brands to create limited edition flavours, and also focus groups and taste testers help us develop new ideas!
Can you walk us through a day in the life of running a brownie business?
No day is the same! We operate from a shared commercial space, Mission Kitchen, and I also do my business, ops and strategy from a WeWork space, which means I am never in the same place! Some days its focussing on strategy, planning, accounts and of course outreach to potential clients, other days its in the kitchen with the team getting those orders out, recipe development and meeting buyers with samples of our products. I love the variety that running the business brings, however it is super easy to get burnt out being a solo founder, which means its important to factor in fun with family and friends, alongside lots of spa days!
What is the most popular brownie flavour your customers can’t get enough of?
Our best-selling brownie is our Sea Salt, Caramel Pretzel Brownie! It is amazing and definitely my favourite for sure. Also, because all of our brownies are gluten free, it is super popular with people who follow a gluten free diet or have Celiac Disease, as is it the perfect texture - gooey and crunchy using gluten free pretzels. Delicious!
Do you use any special baking techniques or secret ingredients to make your brownies extra indulgent?
We can't share our secret recipe, however I will say it involves steam to achieve the perfect gooey consistency with the best brownie crust on top!
What inspires your brownie creations - is it seasonal ingredients, customer feedback, or your own sweet tooth?
We use a combination of ways to get inspiration, from focus groups, brainstorming in the kitchen, social media trends and trial and error we always work hard to produce the best creations.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a small bakery business owner, and how did you overcome it?
I would say the biggest challenge we have had so far, and something we are still working towards overcoming is the ever increasing price of chocolate. Over the last 15 months, our chocolate has risen by 320% - something that is really scary for a business that is predominately focussed on chocolate desserts! We will always stick with premium chocolate, we never want to lower our quality or end result. so it's just about navigating suppliers, buying in bulk and of course still maintaining the best gluten free brownies ever!
Do you have a proudest moment since launching Frankie’s Brownies?
I have a few proudest moments - I can't pick just one! I think even starting the business and getting it to the stage it is is something I am extremely proud of. I am from a working class background in Elephant and Castle, South London, and didn't go to University, so I never even dreamed that running a business would be something I ever did! Other proudest moments include creating the first and only dessert on Honest Burgers menu (selling over 35,000 units to date), winning the Rising Star Award from Wandsworth Enterprise Hub - recognising female entrepreneurship, featuring on BBC Radio London to over 500k listeners, and completing the Virgin StartUp Empower 100 programme.
Also, a bit of a personal one, but whilst I was growing the business 2 years ago, my dad passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. This was a complete shock, however I am proud that I managed to channel these feelings into pushing the business forwards, and I know that my dad would be very proud of what I have built and the future ahead!
When you’re enjoying a brownie at home, what’s your favourite drink to pair it with - tea, coffee, or something else?
When relaxing at home and enjoying the creations of our kitchen, I love to pair our brownie with a delicious Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate for a nice relaxing snack whilst watching Netflix!
Do you have any tips for creating the ultimate brownie moment at home - for example, warming them up or adding toppings?
We have had lots of customers who warm them up in an air-fryer, I would say also putting together an at-home afternoon tea is a great idea, serving our brownies alongside an afternoon tea fit for royalty - don't forget to include some clotted cream!!
When do you think is the best time of day to enjoy a brownie - mid-morning pick-me-up, afternoon tea, or as an after-dinner treat?
I would say anytime! I have had brownies for breakfast, pudding, and even in the night when raiding the fridge! haha!
If someone is ordering from Frankie’s Brownies for the first time, which flavour should they try first?
I would suggest our Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel Brownie for the ones with the really sweet tooth, and our luxurious Dark Chocolate Brownie for those who love chocolate in its simplest form!
Do you offer brownie delivery across the UK?
We offer brownie delivery across the whole of the UK/nationwide - we use a variety of low emission delivery services. For example, Royal Mail, DPD Next Day, Gophr and Pedal Me depending on your order size and location.
Are there any limited-edition brownie flavours or exciting launches coming soon?
Is pumpkin spice season! & also Christmas is coming up - our menu over the next 3 months is going to include Pumpkin Spice Brownies, Mint Chocolate and Candy Cane ganache cups, Dark Choc and Clementine Brownies, and also a Marshmallow brownie - all completely gluten free of course!
Whether you’re ordering a box of gooey gluten-free brownies for yourself, planning corporate gifts, or dreaming of pumpkin spice and festive flavours, Frankie’s Brownies has something for every sweet tooth. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Frankie and her growing business - one indulgent bite at a time. You can visit Frankie's brownies here.
