Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc.

A Look at the History of Mrs. Fields’ Cookies

Mrs. Fields’ Original Cookies, Inc. grew from one small store into a well known cookie brand. It started with a young woman who loved to bake and wanted to share warm cookies with the world. Over time, the business changed owners, added new brands, and spread to many places.

The story of Mrs. Fields is about fresh cookies, friendly service, and clever systems behind the scenes. It is also about risk, debt, and hard choices when growth moved too fast. Looking at the full history helps show how a simple idea can turn into a complex company.

This article walks through the early days, the big growth years, and the later restructuring. It highlights the people who shaped the brand and how the model changed over time. It also shares a detailed timeline, interesting facts, and useful lessons for anyone who wants to build a business.

How It All Started

The story begins with Debbi Sivyer, who grew up in a working class family in California. As a teenager, she learned to bake and became known for her rich, soft chocolate chip cookies. Baking was more than a hobby; it became a way to show care and to stand out.

In 1976, Debbi married economist Randy Fields. He believed in her talent and later helped build the business side. Together they mixed her warm, personal style with his love of numbers and systems.

Many experts said a cookie only store would not work. Even so, Debbi and Randy pushed ahead and secured a small business loan. The loan officer trusted them more than the research, and that vote of confidence helped open the first store in 1977.

Debbi spent time perfecting a soft, chewy cookie recipe that used premium ingredients.
She believed people would pay more for a warm cookie that tasted “homemade.”
Randy focused on the business structure and on building a repeatable store model.
The couple chose a high traffic spot in Palo Alto, California, for the first store.
From the start, they cared about the in store experience, not just the product.

Early Ups and Downs

The first Mrs. Fields store opened in Palo Alto on August 18, 1977. At first, no one came in to buy. To fix this, Debbi walked outside with trays of free samples and invited people to try a cookie. Once they tasted the product, customers started to line up.

This simple idea of generous sampling became a core part of the brand. The smell of cookies baking, the warm samples, and Debbi’s friendly style drew people into the store. The shop felt like an open kitchen rather than a typical retail counter.

Early success led to more locations, but not every store worked right away. Some new sites needed local events, stronger staff training, or changes in hours. These adjustments helped turn weak stores into stronger performers.

A second store opened at San Francisco’s Pier 39, a busy tourist spot on the waterfront.
Additional stores followed in places such as Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center and Salt Lake City, Utah.
By the early 1980s, the company had grown from a single shop to dozens of outlets.
Headquarters moved from California to Park City, Utah, to support further expansion.
The team learned to tailor marketing to each local market while keeping the core product the same.

Big Moments and Growth

As the store count grew, Mrs. Fields changed from a small family venture into a large chain. Expansion reached malls, airports, and busy shopping areas. Customers came to expect the same soft cookies and aroma in each location.

During the 1980s, the company also began to acquire other bakery brands. This broadened its reach beyond cookie shops into full bakery and sandwich stores. At the same time, information systems became a key part of the growth story.

Later, franchising and licensing opened the door to more rapid expansion. Instead of owning every store, the company allowed others to use the brand and systems. This approach brought Mrs. Fields to new countries and shopping centers across the world.

In 1987, Mrs. Fields bought La Petite Boulangerie, a chain of bakery and sandwich shops.
The network of stores grew into the hundreds across the United States and abroad.
Store level computer systems helped plan daily production and cut waste.
In 1990, the company began to franchise stores rather than own them all directly.
By the late 1990s, the combined brands under the umbrella organization included more than 1,500 locations and strong annual sales.

People and Ideas That Shaped the Company

Debbi Fields remained the public face of the brand for many years. She was known for her upbeat style, direct contact with staff, and focus on quality. She often told stories about the early days and her belief in fresh product and friendly service.

Randy Fields helped shape the less visible side of the company. He pushed for strong systems, data, and planning. That mix of warm store experience and cool data analysis was unusual for a cookie chain at the time.

Over time, new executives, investors, and lenders stepped in. They guided franchising, licensing, and restructuring. While their names were less known to the public, their decisions influenced the direction of the company.

Debbi promoted strict rules on freshness and did not want old product sold to guests.
Randy led the effort to install networked computers in stores to track sales and plan baking.
Later leaders focused on expanding the brand through franchise growth and new channels.
Private equity firms became more involved as the company took on and then worked to reduce debt.
Management teams under different owners kept the core cookie idea while adjusting the structure around it.

How the Business Model Changed Over Time

In the early years, most stores were company owned. Headquarters trained staff, set standards, and managed every outlet. This made it easier to keep a tight hold on quality, but it required a lot of capital.

Franchising, which began around 1990, changed that balance. Local owners took on the cost of opening and operating stores. In return, they paid fees and agreed to follow brand rules.

Debt and financial pressure also changed the company. At several points, Mrs. Fields and its parent organization had to restructure and pass more control to investors and lenders. The brand survived, but the ownership structure became more complex.

Company owned stores dominated in the early expansion phase.
Franchise and license agreements later became the main growth tools.
Corporate roles shifted from direct retail operations toward support, branding, and training.
The parent company added and later sold several snack brands as part of portfolio changes.
Bankruptcy and out of court deals reduced debt while keeping stores open.

Timeline of Mrs. Fields’ Original Cookies, Inc.

This timeline highlights key moments from the founder’s early life to the present day. It shows when important stores opened, when new brands joined, and when the company restructured. It gives a fast way to see how the business evolved over several decades.

Each year entry marks an event that changed the path of the company. Some events relate to products and store growth. Others relate to owners, debt, and new directions.

The dates are based on public records, company materials, and reliable news sources. The timeline focuses on well documented points and avoids unclear figures. It is meant to support a clear, fact based view of the brand’s history.

1956

Debbi Sivyer is born in Oakland, California, and later learns to bake as a teenager.

1976

Debbi marries Randy Fields, who will become her partner in building the cookie business.

August 18, 1977

The first Mrs. Fields cookie store opens in Palo Alto, California, after the couple secures a small business loan.

Late 1970s

A second store opens at San Francisco’s Pier 39, followed by new locations in other high traffic areas.

1979–1981

Stores open in places such as Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center and Salt Lake City, Utah, and the chain grows to more than a dozen locations.

Early 1980s

Headquarters moves from California to Park City, Utah, to support national expansion and central planning.

1987

Mrs. Fields acquires La Petite Boulangerie, a bakery and sandwich chain, adding over one hundred stores to its portfolio.

1988–1989

The company records a large loss and closes dozens of underperforming stores but returns to profitability the following year.

Late 1980s

Advanced store level computer systems are rolled out to help plan daily production, manage supply, and study sales in real time.

1990

Franchising begins, allowing local owners to operate stores under the Mrs. Fields brand.

1996

The company settles a Federal Trade Commission case over “low fat” cookie marketing and agrees not to misstate nutritional claims.

Late 1990s

Combined brands under the parent organization reach more than 1,500 locations around the world, with strong annual sales.

2000s

Mrs. Fields and frozen yogurt brand TCBY are grouped under a new parent company that focuses on snack and dessert franchising.

August 24, 2008

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands files a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan in Delaware to cut debt while keeping stores open.

October 27, 2008

The company exits Chapter 11 after court approval and continues to operate more than a thousand franchised and licensed locations.

2011

A new restructuring hands greater control to creditors, including private equity firms that had financed the company’s debt.

2013

Z Capital Partners becomes the sole owner of the Mrs. Fields parent company.

2014

Famous Brands acquires Utah based confectionery businesses to add candy and snack nuts to its product range.

2016

A new chief executive officer is appointed to lead Famous Brands and its core brands, including Mrs. Fields and TCBY.

2023

Pearl Street Equity and its partners acquire Famous Brands Franchising, the business that manages Mrs. Fields and TCBY franchises.

2020s

Mrs. Fields continues to operate as a global franchise and gifting brand with several hundred locations and a strong online presence.

Interesting Facts About Mrs. Fields’ Original Cookies, Inc.

The history of Mrs. Fields includes many small details that help explain its appeal. Some relate to how the very first customers were won over. Others highlight how unusual the systems were for a cookie chain.

These facts come from company materials and reliable business sources. They are helpful for adding color to a story or case study. They also show how the brand tried to keep a “home baked” feel while using advanced tools.

Each point below is grounded in documented history. Taken together, they give a fuller picture of how the company stood out. They show both the personal side and the analytical side of the brand.

On the first day in Palo Alto, Debbi reportedly made no sales until she went outside with free samples and invited people in.
The brand became known for its strong chocolate aroma, which was part of the store design, not an accident.
Debbi insisted that cookies sold in the store be fresh and did not want day old product offered to guests.
Randy Fields helped design a computer system that told staff how many cookies to bake each hour based on past sales.
Business schools and trade magazines wrote about Mrs. Fields as an early example of technology used in food retailing.
The company once operated a mix of cookie, pretzel, and bakery brands before later narrowing its focus again.
In the mid 1990s, regulators challenged some nutritional claims, which led to a formal agreement on how products would be advertised.
Even after bankruptcy in 2008, most stores remained open, and many customers never noticed a change.
The brand shifted from family ownership to private equity control but kept the founder’s name on every store.

Lessons Learned from Mrs. Fields’ Original Cookies, Inc.

The history of Mrs. Fields offers many practical takeaways for entrepreneurs. Some lessons are about product and service. Others are about growth, debt, and long term control.

These lessons come from real events the company faced over several decades. They highlight both strong moves and painful corrections. You can use them as prompts when you plan or review your own business.

Each point below links back to a clear part of the story. They show how decisions on quality, systems, and finance can shape a brand. They also show how a simple idea can get complex as it grows.

Focus on one great product and experience. A single, well executed product with a strong in store experience can attract loyal guests without a huge menu.
Sampling can break through doubt. When market research said the concept would not work, free samples turned skeptics into fans.
Quality rules build trust. Clear rules on freshness and ingredients helped justify premium pricing and protect the brand over time.
Systems are not just for big firms. Mrs. Fields used advanced computer tools while still presenting a warm, home style image.
Grow at a pace you can control. Rapid expansion and high debt created stress and forced painful restructurings later on.
Franchising changes your role. When you shift from owning stores to franchising, you must excel at training, support, and brand protection.
Be careful with claims. Regulatory action over “low fat” marketing shows how important it is to match all claims with clear data.
Restructuring can save a brand. Bankruptcy and debt deals are hard, but they can keep a brand alive if handled with care.
A founder’s story still matters. Even under new owners, the story of Debbi Fields continues to give the brand a human face.

Where Things Stand Now and What Might Be Next

Today, Mrs. Fields operates within a larger franchise group that also includes TCBY frozen yogurt. The company focuses on cookies, brownies, and gifting, while its parent supports development and brand strategy. Stores operate in malls, travel hubs, and other busy locations.

The brand also sells products through online ordering, corporate gifts, and licensed goods in retail channels. Production and distribution centers support these activities from the Mountain West region. This gives the company a base for both store supply and shipped orders.

New owners plan to grow the brand through more franchises and new products. They also aim to build on the long history of the name. As long as guests still enjoy warm cookies and simple treats, there is room for Mrs. Fields to keep evolving.

Sources: Mrs. Fields, Famous Brands International, Encyclopedia.com, Wikipedia, Federal Trade Commission, Deseret News, Nation’s Restaurant News, Business Wire, Pearl Street Equity