Loren Castle did not have a certain career path in mind when she graduated from the University of Southern California in 2006. The then 22-year-old New York City native got a degree in communications and knew she liked health, wellness and business, but she had no idea what she was going to do with her life. Post-graduation, she went back to New York but planned to move to L.A. permanently. However, just months after graduating, Castle was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma and had to undergo six months of chemotherapy. Depressed, she began seeing a therapist who helped her see the moment as empowering, leading her to make healthier dietary choices. She started experimenting with dessert recipes using whole foods and eventually created what she believed to be the best cookie she had ever tasted.
Nearly 20 years later, Castle is the founder and CEO of Sweet Loren's, which sells vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free refrigerated cookie dough in various flavors, and has expanded to 35,000 grocery stores nationwide with an estimated gross revenue of $97 million in 2024. After completing her cancer treatment in 2007, Castle worked in different industries while continuing to develop her cookie recipes in her kitchen. She gained recognition in a baking competition, which encouraged her to pursue her passion more seriously, leading to the establishment of her brand and the significant growth of her cookie empire.