Glasgow-based cookie company Chulo's opens first shop on Argyle Street

Chulo’s Stuffed Cookies, which was started by couple Rebecca Paterson and Jordan Rankin in March last year, has built a firm following after selling their cookies at markets and cafes across Glasgow.

The 27-year-olds, who are both self-taught bakers, set up the company after deciding they wanted to have their own business and "do their own thing".

Rebecca Paterson and Jordan Rankin [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Rebecca said: "We just started baking from home.

"It was the wrong end of lockdown actually, we should have started at the start and maybe had a bit more time, but we ended up going back to work and starting it then.

"So we did both at the same time, we were baking on the side and working full time and then we started to do markets.

"It was about June last year we did our first one and from there it just kind of a hit.

"Then in July we both quit our jobs and went to do it full time so we just picked up different markets and went anywhere that would take us until we built a bit of a following and then we moved out the house and into a unit, so we’ve got our own bakery now.

"Everything will still be made at our bakery and then just transported to the shop."

Chulo's Stuffed Cookies (Image: Chulo's Stuffed Cookies)

She added: "I’ve always baked, always loved baking, it was very much self-taught but I spent most of lockdown making loaves, cookies, but I don’t think Jordan had cracked an egg before we started - but he’s great now."

While Rebecca says they always knew they wanted to open their own shop, she says taking over the bakery in February and opening their shop on Argyle Street within such a short space of time "has been way quicker than we really could have hoped for".

Rebecca Paterson and Jordan Rankin [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

She explained: "When we started Chulo's we always knew we wanted a shop however we had pictured it more as a cafe as we weren’t sure just our cookies were enough.

"We thought if we started small with cookies, we would eventually grow into doing more, however, we realised we had a product that we loved and decided just to stick with cookies.

"We love doing markets and food events, but we are more restricted with how many different flavours we can bring.

"With the shop, we are now going to be offering at least 12 different flavours of stuffed cookies and will also be able to serve them with coffee."

Chulo's Stuffed Cookies (Image: Chulo's Stuffed Cookies)

She added: "I’m nervous, definitely, but I am excited and looking forward to just being open and not having the weight on our shoulders of something going wrong before we open."

Rebecca and Jordan say they’ve been lucky to have a lot of "loyal supporters" who have been with them from the start, with one customer who bought from their first ever market still coming to see them wherever they’re selling.

"The response we've had from social media has been amazing - everyone has been so supportive and we can’t wait for all our usual customers to see the shop," Rebecca said.

"We've also had a lot of support from other small businesses in Glasgow which we appreciate so much.

"It’s been very daunting setting up the shop from scratch and we are very lucky to have plenty of people to turn to that have already been through it that are happy to help us out and offer advice."

Rebecca Paterson and Jordan Rankin [Gordon Terris, Newsquest] (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Jordan added: "We’re grateful to friends and family that have helped support us as well.

"People have just been drafted in to help us do markets or to help paint or we’ve had family members in the bakery, and we appreciated the help we’ve got."

So what’s next for Chulo’s?

"We’ve got a couple of ideas, but I think we’ll tackle this one first and see, maybe even have a day off before thinking about the next step," Jordan laughs.

Chulo’s Stuffed Cookies will be located at 936 Argyle Street in Finnieston.

It will be open from 10am on Fridays and Saturdays from today.

Chulo's Stuffed Cookies (Image: Chulo's Stuffed Cookies)