Restaurant Operator Podcast
Dirty Dough owner succeeds on transparency, great cookies
Restaurant Operator Podcast host Mandy Detwiler talks to Bennet Maxwell, owner of Dirty Dough, about the cookie brand's launch and what keeps it successful.
November 25, 2025
Dirty Dough owner Bennett Maxwell knows cookies. After all, his brand has 50 flavors and a simple model.
In this episode of the Restaurant Operator Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb, talks to Maxwell about his operations, the cookie wars he battled and the marketing strategies that make Dirty Dough a success.
When asked what advice he would give to another restaurant or hospitality start up that might face unexpected legal or PR crises early on, Maxwell said he would be as open, transparent and authentic as possible.
When he was slapped with a lawsuit by a competing brand, Maxwell recommended to "get business advice from business people, get legal advice from legal people. But, if you're in that scenario, I would just be as open and transparent about everything."
Hear the cookie wars story and how Maxwell came out victorious by listening to the entire podcast.
