Worcester Business Journal

20 Worcester Business Journal | January 9, 2023 | wbjournal.com B E S T O F B U S I N E S S F O O D , D R I N K & M A R I J U A N A B ri's Sweet Treats, which provides items like chocolates with corporate logos for company galas, conferences, and boards of director meetings, may be a new business. But it is built on the foundation of skills its owner's old identity as a corporate recruiter. Briana Azier has been successful in transferring her knowledge of networking, marketing, and sales into a new place and time – her own kitchen in Leicester – during the COVID pandemic. Always creative and cray, and with the help of her 8-year-old son Cole, she began making homemade candy treats for friends and neighbors in 2020. "ey were very well received," she said, with some bumps along the way, like tie-dye cupcakes. "ey were not BY SUSAN SHALHOUB Special to WBJ Aer kitchen beginnings, chocolatier sets up shop very pretty." But she learned all she could about making chocobombs and small breakables, utilizing online resources. "I had never made candy before, but I got all the education I could. I didn't have an extreme amount of money, but I did have a lot of time,"Azier said. e idea of working for herself and the death of her brother during this time caused Azier to reflect on what was important to her, and that was setting up a legacy business for her child and grandchildren, not working for someone else. She eventually le her corporate job and began the steps to get her home kitchen licensed for chocolate making. Her research skills kicked in to walk her through this process. "It's not difficult, but there are many steps," said Azier. "My work as a corporate manager better trained me to follow processes and procedures. But as I didn't have a food background, I didn't know that the food world is so highly regulated, with standards and operating procedures that aren't common knowledge. "It really opened my eyes." Azier praises Worcester Regional Food Hub for its resources and the food entrepreneur program Upskill at Worcester State University for its classes. Both have been catalysts leading to big milestones for Bri's Sweet Treats, with its signature purple and white branding, including the acquisition of a wholesale permit. In case you're wondering, yes, Cole still helps her create the sugary, creamy, delicious treats. December marked a major milestone for the business. Azier, who has been relying on pop-up retail events, is moving into brick-and-mortar space at Worcester Public Market, in e Sweet Life location near Canal District Wines. "It will be a completely new buildout," said Azier. "Expect purple and white." BEST NEW BUSINESS Bri's Sweet Treats Worcester Shopbrissweettreats.com Top executive: Briana Azier, CEO, owner, and head treat maker Founded: February 2021 Employees: 1 (with 2-5 more expected throughout 2023) Briana Azier is opening her first retail location inside the Worcester Public Market. W

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