For the myriad of artisanal local businesses that got their start at Dean & Deluca, the gourmet grocer’s financial troubles mean more than just a lost client. Several New York City vendors have spoken out about being owed tens of thousands of dollars — and now, vendors such as Amy’s Cookies in Brooklyn are at risk of closing.
Dean & Deluca served as the stage where Amy Berg kickstarted her cookie business, which the former photographer started nearly 30 years ago after an eye disease gradually depleted her vision. Supplying to the grocer fueled her growth, and at the company’s peak, she had a seven-person team and half a million dollars in yearly sales.
But now, Dean & Deluca owes Amy’s Cookies nearly $71,000 — an amount that threatens to shut down the business, Berg tells Eater. She is one of several vendors that have filed lawsuits against the grocer in recent years, following repeated attempts to recuperate the debt from the floundering company.
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