Cookies Announces Florida Expansion

One of the world's leading medical and recreation cannabis providers plans to base its Florida headquarters in DeLand, a project that city officials tout as one of the largest commercial-sector investments in the city's history.

California-based Cookies LLC announced its intention to embark on the project that is expected to represent a $100 million capital investment and eventually bring 400 jobs to the community.

“On behalf of the City, I want to welcome Cookies to our community,” Mayor Bob Apgar said in a statement that accompanied the announcement. "Cookies' total investment will represent one of the largest in the commercial sector in our city’s history and will help create hundreds of high-paying jobs for our area over time.

"Cookies is an outstanding organization, and I am looking forward to watching them become an integral part of DeLand,” Apgar said.

The company, which acquired one of Florida’s 22 medical marijuana treatment center licenses last year, will grow, cultivate and distribute its product from the DeLand location.

The operation will be located in the Northwest Industrial Business Park at the facility once owned by Brunswick Corporation. At 400,000 square feet of operating space, it was one of the largest vacant locations available for a corporation to locate.

Jobs in the DeLand operation will range from entry-level positions such as trimmers, janitorial and security staff to upper-level management positions in cultivation, processing, manufacturing, supply channel logistics, maintenance and security, said Jon-Lucas Del Fante, a company spokesman.

Salaries will start at higher-than-minimum-wage for entry level jobs, with management positions typically ranging from $100,000-$200,000 annually, Del Fante said.

"We do hope to hire many of the managerial and higher paying jobs out of the gate in next few months," he said, with a target of opening between January and April of 2022.

Founded in 2012, Cookies has an established presence in medical and recreational cannabis markets across the United States and internationally, with 43 retail locations located globally.

“Cookies will be redeveloping one of our largest un-utilized properties in the city’s Northwest Industrial Business Park,” said Nick Conte, the city's Economic Development Manager. “Additionally, the company will be utilizing 20 acres of undeveloped industrial property as part of its new construction plans, which includes the hiring of over 200+ employees as part of their first phase.”