More than 20 years ago, Insomnia Cookies was founded in Philadelphia as a cookie brand geared toward college students. Now, it’s gone international.<\/p>\n
Seth Berkowitz, founder and CEO of Insomnia Cookies, said they now sell over 20 million cookies a quarter across more than 350 locations worldwide.<\/p>\n
“We’re in major cities, suburbs,” Berkowitz said. “We’re in transportation areas. We’re in stadiums. The brand has meant a lot more than college, even though college is so core.”<\/p>\n
The recipe for Insomnia Cookies’ success starts in Philadelphia. Berkowitz started the company his junior year at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I lived in a college house with eight of my incredibly good friends,” Berkowitz said. “We would order pizza and sandwiches \u2014 anything. All throughout all hours of the night, but I had this tremendous sweet tooth.”<\/p>\n
Insomnia still calls Philly home more than two decades later. The company is headquartered in Center City \u2014 with its flagship bakery.<\/p>\n
“I definitely didn’t envision this,” Berkowitz said. “This is more than I ever could’ve imagined or dreamed of.”<\/p>\n
Insomnia boasts not only an international footprint, but an expansive menu. Of course there are cookies: classic, including vegan and gluten-free options, plus deluxe options. And then there are brownies, “Wiches,” cookie cakes and ice cream.<\/p>\n
“We are Philly born and bred,” Berkowitz said. “We spend a tremendous amount of our time thinking about Philly and how the brand resonates in Philly, and I think the community embraces us.”<\/p>\n
East Passyunk is home to the company’s “Cookie Lab,” which was its first experiential store. That opened in 2021 and offers customers a speakeasy experience featuring milkshakes and cookies.<\/p>\n