A Recipe For Success

By Jill Diver

Rapid growth is every small business owner’s dream and now a local cookie business in Everett, is doing just that.

Rocco Botta, 64, came to the United States at age 17, from Italy. Once here he started working as a baker at Harvard Pastry in Malden. After years of hard work, Botta and his brother purchased Harvard Pastry and continued as a bakery from 1979 to 1994, naming it HP Cookie.

It was then in 1994 that Botta started selling cookies wholesale to Boston based supermarkets and wholesale clubs.

Rico Botta, 32, has been working side-by-side with his father, Rocco, at the family bakery, ever since he was 8 years old. However, taking one look at the younger Botta you’d never guess he worked in a cookie factory.

“Everyone tells me I don't look like I manufacture cookies, but that makes it even more interesting,” he said with a laugh.

“I was always around the business my whole life and in 2006 it became my livelihood,” Botta said. “I focused on expanding the family operated business nationwide by traveling to Costco headquarters in Virginia, Chicago, and Atlanta; Whole Foods Corporate and Kroger Supermarkets.” 

The company manufactures assortments of cookies from Anise Drops, topped with icing to all-natural, fruit filled sandwich cookies, and even red velvet cupcakes.

Rico works side by side with his father, Rocco. Working in an all-family business could possibly be considered a tough job, but there are perks. Now the VP of Operational Sales, the younger Botta has helped take his father’s bakery from something small to a large-scale operation

“You have to like what you do,” Botta said. “ My father and I talk about recipes, marketing and we run everything, together.” 

In a world that is now based on sales and profits, having different generations working together creates a better business.

“No one makes deals based on handshakes anymore,” Botta said. “With my fathers master baking skills and my passion for cookies we are now nationwide.”

And the pair love what they do so much that they opened up an outlet shop in Everett where customers can purchase fresh baked Italian style cookies at a discounted price.

“The cookie outlet is rewarding,” Botta said. “We donate to the local community, and all our packaging is all specialty packaging.”

All of the cookie recipes are recipes that have been created by Rocco Botta and have been handed down to his son, and are always ever changing.

“We have old school bakery recipes for cookies that have now become a success at the in-store bakeries,” said Rico.

The duo has created their recipe for success. However, the elder Botta paints a clear picture of the definition of a successful family business:

“This [business] becomes like your child, you love it, but not as much you love your children,” said Rocco.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: HP Cookie Company

WHERE: 56 Garden Street, Everett, MA

HOW: 617-387-4800 

HOURS: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.