By: Mia Dubin
The saying typically goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Still, the founder and CEO of Sweet Loren’s, Loren Castle, might disagree, suggesting it should really be, “a cookie a day keeps the doctor away.”
Sweet Loren’s is a cookie dough company that sells gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-friendly refrigerated cookie dough in a variety of flavors, as well as refrigerated pizza, pie crusts, and puff pastry. Castle is a female entrepreneur and a trailblazer in the gluten-free industry.
In the Yahentamitsi Dining Hall on UMD’s north campus, Sweet Loren’s has a hub that serves delicious, gluten-free options. In this hub, students line up to get one of Castle’s famed gluten-free cookies.
After surviving cancer at 22 years old, just after college, Castle began eating clean foods and staying away from artificial ingredients. When she couldn’t find cookie dough made from only clean ingredients, she recognized a gap in the market.
“The motivation to turn it into a business came from my belief that everyone deserves to enjoy simple, delicious food without compromise, and seeing friends and family love the cookies I always made,” she said. “That mission, the ‘why,’ is what has truly driven me from day one.”
Castle explained that the initial challenge to jump-starting her business was finding manufacturers that could handle allergen-free foods. She added that marketing the product was also a challenge, as it is hard to make a product, “jump off the shelf and tell what your product is about in 2 seconds.”
She also describes building a team that was smarter than herself. Loren continues to explain that to overcome these obstacles, her team used relentless perseverance.
“I took every ‘no’ as a redirection, not a stop sign, and I just kept showing up and figuring it out until someone finally said ‘yes’ and learning what product market fit looked like for our brand,” she said.
As a female founder, Loren explained that her proudest moment has been seeing her cookies on shelves nationwide.
“When a mom tells me Sweet Loren’s is the only brand her child, who has severe allergies, can safely and joyfully eat, that’s everything,” Castle said. “Or, when a mom says she keeps Sweet Loren’s in her ‘mom cave’ so she can snack on it whenever she needs a delicious feel-good pick-me-up.”
Seeing Sweet Loren’s cookies in places such as the University of Maryland dining hall, feels incredibly rewarding, Castle said. She explained that it strongly reinforces the company’s mission and feels especially special because her husband attended the university, and one of their recent interns also graduated from there. She added that knowing students, including those with dietary restrictions, can enjoy a safe and delicious treat on campus gives her a deep sense of fulfillment and shows the real impact the company is making on everyday life.
Castle also shared that she hopes students learn the value of trusting their instincts both personally and professionally. She wants them to understand that purpose should guide profit and that when a business stays true to solving real problems and remains committed to its mission, success naturally follows.
“The most empowering part has been building a successful company on my terms, especially while being a mom,” Castle said. “It proves that you don’t have to fit into a traditional mold to win. I can have it all, even if it’s absolutely crazy at times!”
Regarding advice for college students, Loren explains, “start before you’re ready. Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan. Entrepreneurship is about messy action. Fail fast, learn faster, and remember that perseverance will always be your most important asset—more so than capital or a perfect pitch deck. Keep it scrappy, find ways to stand out, and keep tweaking to find product market fit. Just start selling, start learning, and iterate.”
So what is Sweet Loren’s flavor? She said it’s like picking a favorite kid. But she had to choose, it would be the flavor that started it all; Fudgy Brownie Cookie Dough.
Be sure to stop by the Sweet Loren’s hub at the Y to grab some of her sweet treats.