Dôen's Jenny Olson Balances Fashion Career with Family Cookie Empire at Minnesota State Fair
Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar, a beloved family-run business in Minnesota, celebrates its 47th year in 2024. Each summer, Jennifer Olson, who oversees community outreach at Dôen, dedicates 12 days to support the cookie stand. With operations beginning in February, the fair’s baking team—consisting mainly of students—boasts over 750 members. They can produce an extraordinary 44,000 cookies in just 12 minutes, often reaching up to three million cookies daily. During the Minnesota State Fair, they utilize large quantities of ingredients, including 197,000 pounds of sugar and 143,000 pounds of flour. Olson's family contributes as they also engage in philanthropic efforts.
Key facts
- Jennifer Olson is head of community and brand engagement at Dôen.
- Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar was founded in 1979 by Martha Rossini, Gary Olson, and Neil O'Leary.
- The business is celebrating its 47th year at the Minnesota State Fair.
- The fair runs for 12 days each summer.
- The business has three permanent locations at the fairgrounds.
- Over 750 staff members are hired each year.
- One mixing bowl makes 5,000 cookies; 22 ovens can bake 44,000 cookies in 12 minutes.
- On average, one million cookies are made per day, with up to three million on busy days.
- Over 12 days, they use 197,000 pounds of sugar, 143,000 pounds of flour, 125,000 pounds of chocolate chips, and 58,000 pounds of eggs.
- At least 20 family members work each year.
- Merch collaborations include Vampire Weekend, The Black Keys, and LCD Soundsystem, with proceeds to St. Paul Public Library.
- Olson's husband Aidan Klimenko and brother David also work at the fair.
- The interview was published by Vogue.
- Olson typically arrives at 7 a.m. and opens at 8 a.m.
- She wears a yellow Sweet Martha's tee with vintage fatigue pants.
Entities
Artists
- Jennifer Olson
- Martha Rossini
- Gary Olson
- Neil O'Leary
- Rose Rossini
- David Olson
- Erica Dao
- Aidan Klimenko
- Katie Atlas
- Aaron Levine
- Ezra Koenig
- Jake Longstreth
- Andrew Zimmern
- Tre Jones
- Tyus Jones
- Lucia Anderson
- Will Anderson
- Michael Anderson
- Mikey
- Mary Karen Lynn-Klimenko
- Bill
- Rose
- Nick
- Idile
- Theo Chapman
- Romeo Okara
- Peter Bian
- Linda Cao
- Cayden
- Cheri
- Michael Neal
Institutions
- Dôen
- Sweet Martha's Cookie Jar
- Minnesota State Fair
- Vogue
- St. Paul Public Library
- Vampire Weekend
- The Black Keys
- LCD Soundsystem
- Club Monaco
- Apple
- Chicago Bulls
- Denver Nuggets
- Petrified Good
- Grateful Dead
- The Beatles
- Time Crisis
- All You Can Drink Milk Stand
- Turkey Jive
- Baba's
Locations
- Minnesota
- St. Paul
- Minneapolis
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- New York City
- Machinery Hill
- Grandstand
- Midway
- North Carolina