DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections Acquired by 16 Handles Owner Neil Hershman

Growing Frozen Yogurt and Soft Serve Chain to Add Famous Edible Cookie Dough Brand to Its Offerings

NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneur Neil Hershman, the owner and CEO of 16 Handles, New York City's leading self-serve frozen yogurt franchise with over 30 locations, has acquired the famously innovative edible and bakeable cookie dough brand, DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hershman will immediately retain the role of CEO and owner of DŌ. He is joined by DŌ's founder and co-owner Kristen Tomlan, who will continue to play an integral part in this new stage of growth as the Chief Brand Officer. 

Tomlan, a designer and brand consultant, founded DŌ in 2014 because of her love for unbaked cookie dough. Her unique take on the formerly forbidden treat has been a viral success and has inspired millions of customers, including the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest, Chrissy Teigen, and John Legend, worldwide to eat cookie dough just how they crave it -- straight out of the mixing bowl! Her business has garnered hours-long lines and has captured the attention of leading media outlets including The New York Times, TODAY show, People magazine, Forbes, O, The Oprah Magazine, and The Food Network. Tomlan successfully grew the brand to include multiple retail outlets and pop-ups, a booming eCommerce business, hands-on and virtual baking classes, and safe-to-eat flour and mixes. Her cookbook, Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake, and Share debuted in October 2019. 

"I started DŌ in a quest to create a worry-free indulgence that I could selfishly eat, bake, and share with others. The mission for this brand was always about spreading joy, which has been and always will be my favorite part of the baking process," says Tomlan. "It's been a dream come true to collaborate with 16 Handles' New York City locations over the past five years, so expanding the partnership and growing our brands together is exciting for us both. I'm looking forward to this next chapter and being able to continue to spread happiness through these two iconic New York desserts."

Over the past four years, Hershman has quickly built a brick-and-mortar dessert empire throughout New York City under various popular brands. He personally owns and operates 12 dessert shops, including the 16 Handles Flagship located in Times Square.

"DŌ is one of New York City's favorite and most unique desserts, and it's been so popular selling alongside our artisanal frozen yogurt at 16 Handles in the past. I'm so excited to take Kristen and my partnership to the next level as we integrate DŌ's addictive edible cookie dough into the self-serve topping bar and to-go freezer at all of our 16 Handles locations, especially as we continue to expand nationally," said Hershman.

DŌ will continue to ship its products nationwide through its website (www.cookiedonyc.com), offer unique and customizable gifting, catering and corporate treats, create unique class experiences, develop strategic pop-up retail locations, produce its safe-to-eat flour and mixes, and sell Tomlan's cookbook. The stand-alone retail location in Greenwich Village has closed to make room for an increase in eCommerce capacity, and an exclusive lineup of DŌ products will soon be available at all 16 Handles locations nationwide. Customers can try DŌ starting today at the seven 16 Handles' Manhattan locations, where it is featured on the topping bar and in to-go pints.

For more information about DŌ, please visit cookiedonyc.com or email [email protected]. Contact 16 Handles at [email protected].

About DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections
DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections, is the world's first edible and bakeable cookie dough confectionery, founded by Kristen Tomlan in 2014. Since then, the brand has expanded to include a booming direct-to-consumer eCommerce arm, events, catering, corporate gifting, virtual and in-pseron classes, specialty pop-up retail, wholesale partnerships, and a cookbook, Hello, Cookie Dough, authored by Tomlan. You can find DŌ's full offering at www.cookiedonyc.com.

About 16 Handles
16 Handles opened its first store in Manhattan's East Village in 2008, becoming the first self-serve frozen yogurt shop in New York City. Since then, the brand has expanded to over 30 locations with a menu that includes frozen yogurt, ice cream, vegan soft serve, endless toppings, drinks, and other treats & snacks. Each shop's full menu is available in store and via the 16 Handles app. In addition to creating irresistible desserts, 16 Handles works closely with local and national organizations in partnerships and fundraisers. For more information, visit 16handles.com.

Media Contact: Mia Rusch, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections