Wally Amos, Founder Of Famous Amos Cookies, Dead At 88

Wally Amos, known to most as Famous Amos, has died at the age of 88.

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A statement released by his children attributed the death of the entrepreneur behind the Famous Amos cookie enterprise to a battle with dementia.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story and a source of Black pride ,” detailed the statement, per NPR . “Our dad taught us the value of hard work, believing in ourselves, and chasing our dreams.”

According to the outlet, Amos passed away at home peacefully with his wife, Carol, by his side on Tuesday (Aug. 13).

According to NBC News , Amos was born in Tallahassee, Fla. before moving to New York at the age of 12 to live with his aunt following his parent’s divorce. That aunt, Della Bryant, is the person who taught him how to bake cookies.

He dropped out of high school to join the Air Force, before working as a mailroom clerk at the William Morris Agency, where he became a talent agent, leading to him working with notable acts such as The Supremes, Simon & Garfunkel, and Marvin Gaye. Amos then leveraged his connections and secured a $25,000 loan to launch his own business.

Amos “inspired a generation of entrepreneurs when he founded the world’s first cookie store” as he opened his shop in Los Angeles on the famous Sunset Blvd in 1975, says his children. According to The New York Times , the company sold $300,000 in cookies that year, and by 1982, revenue reached $12 million.

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According to NBC News, in 2007, Amos noted that the cookies consumers are familiar with today are not the sweet treats he created, which had lots of chocolate, real butter, and pure vanilla extract.

“You can’t compare a machine-made cookie with [a] handmade cookie,” he explained. “It’s like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Volkswagen.”

After his initial success, Amos faced years of financial struggles. He was forced to sell the brand to a private equity group in 1988, per CNN . Ferrero, the current owner of the Famous Amos, also owns brands including Butterfinger, Keebler, Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, and more.

“Ferrero and the Famous Amos team are saddened by the loss of Wally Amos and our thoughts are with his family,” relayed a statement shared on social media by the Ferrero brand. “He brought joy to millions with his cookies and is an inspiration to generations of entrepreneurs. We will continue to work to honor his legacy.”

VIBE sends our condolences to the family and friends of Wally Amos.

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