Big game a sweet deal for local business

When Janice Paris opened up Sumo Cookies in 2003, she probably never  imagined that her shop would be a part of one of the largest sporting events in the Metroplex’s history.

The Flower Mound business was one of 20 dessert companies selected to participate in the Super Bowl Host Committee Tailgating Party on Super Bowl Sunday this Feb. 6.

“We feel very privileged to be a part of this event,” Paris said. “We are very excited to get this opportunity. It’s huge.”

Sumo Cookies was one of several North Texas Emerging Businesses to bid for a spot in the tailgating party, and Paris said it was a very involved process, culminating in a phone call from Los Angeles based Party Planner’s West.

“They told me that I would be hearing from them regarding the tailgating party,” Paris said.

“In order to get in, we had a submit samples, and there were specific requirements. We sent in the flatties and the little Sumo cookies, and they chose the flatties to be served at the tailgating party.”

Flatties are flat fortune cookies encased in chocolate with some of the same toppings their regular fortune cookies offer.

Paris said her shop will be baking 1,000 flatties for the tailgating party, which the southern Denton County business woman said is no small undertaking.

“It will probably take us seven days to make them all,” Paris said. “We’re doing two different kinds.”

Paris said the cookies featured will be the Southern Pecan Turtle flattie and the Cashew Turtle flattie.

The tailgating party will feature all of the NFL owners and their families, as well as celebrities and sponsors, and will serve 13,000 invitation-only guests.

Paris said she will not be watching the big game at the stadium, as the event will be over before the game starts, and added that she will not have to pay for the materials used to make the cookies.

“This is all being covered,” Paris said. “All we have to do is make them.”

Sumo Cookies is located at the corner of FM 2499 and Dixon in Flower Mound in the Robertson’s Creek Shopping Center.

Visit www.sumocookies.com for more information on the company.