Holly "Hollyberry" Cunningham, founder of Hollyberry Baking Company, began baking when she was just 5 years old (with her "Holly Hobbie" oven of course!). By age 7, she had compiled her own book of family recipes, and as a young woman starting her own baking business, even paid her rent in cookies. Today, she has turned her passion for baking into one of the Midwest’s tastiest businesses.
Holly founded Hollyberry Baking in 1998 to provide made-from-scratch baked goods for corporate gifts on a local and national basis. In 2001, Cunningham launched Hollyberry Catering to provide box lunches and buffets for corporate clients, as well as contemporary menus for events.
Holly and her company were featured in Paula Deen’s 2009 Holiday Baking collector’s edition. Her cookies were featured as The Rachael Ray Show’s “Snack of the Day,” and were named the best by St. Louis Magazine. Hollyberry was voted “Favorite St. Louis Caterer" by the readers of Sauce Magazine in both 2009 and 2010. Holly was also the 2002 SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year and was recently chosen to be one of St. Louis Business Journal's "40 Under 40" winners for 2011.
Holly and her team are committed to the St. Louis community. During the 2009 and 2010 holiday seasons, she partnered with St. Patrick Center and its BEGIN New Venture Center to create the “Gifts that Give Back!” program, giving employment opportunities to those at-risk and less fortunate within the St. Louis community. Through the program, each purchase of Hollyberry’s corporate gifts have a direct and positive effect on the lives of those in need in the St. Louis area and put people back to work. In 2008, Hollyberry established a mentoring program with Big Brothers/Big Sisters to teach young women about healthy food choices, body images and gain a hands-on kitchen experience.
Holly Cunningham not only has a passion for baking craveable cuisine, she is also the creative leader behind one of St. Louis’ most exciting woman-owned small businesses. She is also the mother of identical twin girls who are happy to serve as her personal sweet samplers.
