A year ago, Sweet P Bakery was selling “Colossal Cookies” at The Porch.
They were big, soft and delicious. Everyone loved them. But the small Cross Highway deli was — admit it — the minor leagues.
This month, Sweet P Bakery owners Bill and Andrea Pecoriello got called up to the Majors.
That’s not a metaphor.
Thursday is opening day at Yankee Stadium. And — along with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Anthony Volpe — fans will cheer for Sweet P’s sweet & salty, chocolate chip and M&M cookies.
Sooooo good!
They’ll join Bobby Flay, The Halal Guys, Benihana and other legendary purveyors at the famed ballpark’s concession stands and luxury suites.
As often happens in sports, the call-up came quickly — after years of hard work.
Westporter Mike Loparo was a frequent customer at The Porch, the Pecoriello’s business. It began as an outgrowth of Sweet P, the couple’s non-profit bakery that offers training and employment for adults with disabilities.
Loparo’s day job is vice president of retail, marketing and licensing at Legends Hospitality. The company runs food, beverage, merchandise and retail operations at professional and college stadiums around the country.
Why, he asked, aren’t Sweet P’s cookies at Yankee Stadium?
Why not indeed? the Pecoriellos asked. Get us a meeting!
Andrea and Bill Pecoriello.
Last July, Loparo delivered cookies to Robert Flowers, the stadium’s new executive chef.
He loved them. He also loved Sweet P’s mission, working with people with disabilities.
A lot of non-profit food companies have great stories, Flowers said. Not a lot have great products too.
From late August through the World Series, Sweet P supplied cookies for dessert carts in luxury suites. A small card on the cart described the company’s work.
The cookies were always fresh. Loparo hand-delivered them every day.
Legends brought Sweet P on, for the 2025 season. Last week they were showcased — along with returning and new food companies — at the Yankees’ big media day.
All of Sweet P’s bakers were there. Major TV station and key social media influencers interviewed them about their cookies. They were eager to talk about their products — and the way Sweet P helped them find employment, make friends, and enriched their lives.
Telling the Sweet P story for TV.
Stadium executives, even other chefs, jostled to have photos taken with the Sweet P employees.
The added demand for Sweet P cookies will likely lead to more employment opportunities.
The Pecoriellos get several calls a week from parents with adult children with disabilities who like baking. Sweet P may now be able to teach even more of them those skills — along with others, like packng and shipping.
Sweet P has a 3,000-square foot commercial kitchen in Norwalk, with a loading dock.
“We can handle whatever the Yankees throw at us,” Andrea says confidently.
Getting ready, at Yankee Stadium.
This is a feel-good, up-to-the-majors story for sure. “It’s literally a home run,” Andrea says.
But unlike one about a big league ballplayer, this might have a different ending.
As good as Aaron Judge is, he can only play for one team at a time.
Legends executives have already started talking with the Pecoriellos about supplying cookies to other stadiums around the country. A major hotel in Boston is interested too.
What a grand slam that would be!
(Sweet P’s Colossal Cookies will be available at Yankee Stadium concourses by Sections 121 and 211. To learn more about Sweet P — and order online — click here. To learn more about Yankee Stadium food services, click here.)
(Play ball! “06880” often highlights local businesses, non-profits — and the many Westporters doing good things, here and everywhere. If you enjoy these stories, please click here to support our work.)
