On Shark Tank, cookie legend Wally Amos, the creator of the “Famous Amos” cookies brand, pitches his latest bakery business, The Cookie Kahuna. The 80-year-old entrepreneur currently lives in Kailua, Hawaii (where President Barack Obama vacations), which is known for its macadamia nuts. The Cookie Kahuna comes in three flavors: Butterscotch Macadamia, Chocolate Chip Pecan, and Original Chocolate Chip. Each 6 oz. bag sells for $5.99.
Amos opened his first Famous Amos cookie store in 1975 in Los Angeles. He couldn’t have done it without his aunt’s recipe and a $25,000 loan from his friends Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy. (Before baking, Amos became the first African-American agent at the prestigious William Morris Agency.) In 1988, under financial duress, the Famous Amos Company (including the trademark) was sold to The Shansby Group. In the 1990s, Amos launched Uncle Wally’s, known for its muffins, but there’s something about cookies that keeps him (and his clients) coming back for more. Shark Tank airs Fridays at 9pm on ABC.
