Ghirardelli Enters Packaged Cookies With Kroger Debut Oct. 11

Ghirardelli launches packaged cookies at Kroger on Oct. 11, taking the 174-year-old chocolate brand into a premium cookie category led by Mondelēz's Tate's and Ferrero's Famous Amos. The line, in classic chocolate chip and double chocolate chip, lists Ghirardelli chocolate chips as the top ingredient in the double chocolate variety.

"Entering the cookie category marks an exciting new chapter for Ghirardelli and an important step in how we continue to grow the brand and be a part of consumers' lives," Bobby Oliver, vice president and head of marketing at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, said in a statement.

Where and when can shoppers buy them?

The rollout follows a tight retail schedule. The cookies are available now on Ghirardelli's website. Kroger gets the first shelf placement beginning Oct. 11. Walmart follows on Oct. 24, and additional retailers nationwide come on board in January.

How big is the prize?

U.S. cookie sales are expected to slow 1.2% to nearly $19 billion in 2026, according to Mintel, as pressure on consumer spending and snacking frequency weighs on the category. Ghirardelli is betting its premium equity can win share even in a contracting market.

The brand brings momentum. Ghirardelli, owned by Switzerland-based Lindt & Sprüngli, posted double-digit sales growth and added more than a million new households in 2025, led by its baking and confections offerings. It topped $1 billion in revenue last year for the first time, according to a LinkedIn post by the brand's CEO.

"2025 was a landmark year for Ghirardelli, as the brand continued to lead the premiumization of home baking in North America," Lindt & Sprüngli noted in its annual report.

Why cookies fit the portfolio

The move extends an adjacent-products strategy. Beyond chocolate, Ghirardelli already sells brownie mixes and refrigerated cookie dough. The company traces its roots to San Francisco.

The launch pits Ghirardelli directly against Mondelēz's Tate's, which has anchored that company's premium cookie push, and Ferrero's Famous Amos. With nationwide distribution set for January, the brand will test whether its billion-dollar baking equity can transfer to ready-to-eat cookies in a slowing $19 billion category.