Lara Adekoya, a 28-year old Black woman entrepreneur from Los Angeles, launched Fleurs et Sel, a cookie company last year after being laid off from her job due to the pandemic. Now just one year later, her cookies are some of the most sought-after by Hollywood stars and clients from all over the world.
Lara worked at Nordstrom at the Grove as a salesperson for designer shoes since 2015. She had a successful career and became one of the best employees at Nordstrom. However, like many people, Lara was one of those who had to realign her goals due to the pandemic.
When she was furloughed from her job, she realized her passion for baking. She started baking sea salt chocolate chip cookies as a hobby and shares it on social media. She sends cookies to her friends and loyal customers from Nordstrom as a way to reconnect and make things a bit sweeter during quarantine.
Eventually, she decided to turn it into a business. Little did she know that the connections she had made in her previous job would help leverage her business. Some of her previous clients were the first to buy cookies and even helped in promoting the brand further.
Celebrities like Issa Rae, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jenna Dewan, Lena Waithe, and Melissa Benoist were just some who showed love for her cookies. She has also catered to major studios such as Netflix, Amazon Studios, A24, and the Oprah Winfrey Network.
“I’m customer-obsessed and social media-driven, and I use those s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to create community through my cookies,” Lara told Good Morning America. “I hope that my voice transcends communities and transcends different cultural groups so people know that we, as young Black women, we are capable of doing so many things.”
Currently, Fleurs et Sel cookies come in several signature flavors and are sold online and in pop-up shops. She was once invited to a pop-up event in the Grove alongside other luxury brands and her cookies sold out in just 2 hours. Lara plans to expand her business and open a small storefront and bakeshop.
“I’m a multicultural woman, and look at what I’m doing — and especially during this time, with all of these cultural and social movements, it is so amazing to have this much support and this diverse of an audience,” she said. “Everyone’s here for the cookies, but also to share in community.”
