Do You Know the Muffin Man?
Born in Manhasset, NY, Michael Tierney, 26, didn’t grow up aspiring to become a doctor, lawyer or work on Wall Street like many of his peers. From before he can remember, Tierney always wanted to be at the helm of a three Michelin-starred restaurant. He was enamored by the world of fine dining and starting working in professional kitchens at the young age of thirteen as a stagiaire (volunteer).
Upon graduation from high school, Tierney sought a degree from The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college. Prior to enrollment at the CIA, and bursting with ambition and drive, Tierney arranged a kitchen tour at the famous The French Laundry in Napa Valley, CA. After meeting Chef de Cuisine Corey Lee, Tierney landed an externship at the world-renowned restaurant, which he would complete over a six-month window between his freshmen and sophomore year. While most kids his age enjoyed the summer after their freshman year on a beach, Tierney was spending over one hundred hours a week honing his craft during his unpaid externship at the Laundry. Though grueling and difficult, the life lessons, the work ethic, and the pursuit of perfection instilled in Tierney that summer would set the stage for how he approached all ventures in his life.
After his time at the Laundry, Tierney returned to New York to complete his bachelor’s degree at the CIA. Post-graduation, Tierney turned down six-figure corporate restaurant management jobs to return to fine dining, this time at Eleven Madison Park in New York, NY. Working the line at one of the best restaurants in the United States, Tierney had the incredible opportunity to be part of the team as EMP rose to gain its third Michelin star and make it to the Top 10 Restaurants in the World (according to the San Pellegrino 50 Best).
Not being able to shake an entrepreneurial idea he had years earlier, Tierney hung up his apron in 2012 and took his first stab in the world of consumer packaged goods. With no formal training in the space, Tierney developed a new confectionary manufacturing process and founded Creative Confectionary Corp in New York. While building CCC, Tierney simultaneously identified another white space in the packaged goods market when he was unable to find a high-quality tasting paleo bread product. Without fully knowing it yet, the Mikey’s brand was about to be born.
After a brief time supplying a local health food store in Long Island with a vast variety of healthy bakery options (hand-rolled gluten-free ice cones, scones, biscuits, breads, etc.), Tierney eventually developed the English muffin recipe that would transform into the flagship line for Mikey’s (originally called Mikey’s Muffins). Customers across Long Island flocked to buy his gluten-free, paleo, clean-ingredient-driven, low-calorie English muffins. Tierney knew he had something special on his hands and decided to shut down the other items he was making.
As a one-man team, Tierney financed the business, developed the company’s initial products, sourced commercial co-packers to manufacture the product, and began selling the product to national retailers all within its first year.
Now less than two years later, Mikey’s® is causing a major disruption in the frozen bakery section at thousands of stores across the U.S., including major retailers such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger and Walmart. At the end of 2015, Tierney secured a seven-figure investment from REI Capital and will be conducting a Series B round this fall. The capital infusion from REI is allowing Tierney to position his company for the launch of a variety of new items in the back half of 2016 as well as hire Tim Siegel, CCO, the former Vice President of Sales for the West region at Boulder Brands (the owners of gluten-free competitors Udi’s and Glutino).
Mikey’s® launched a Pizza Crust in July ‘16 and recently launched a line of sweet breakfast Muffin Tops and a sliced Sandwich Bread. A few additional line extensions will come in early 2017 to continue to build the brand’s portfolio. With every new item launched, the company’s mission will continue to be the same: create multi-attribute foods that taste great, have wholesome nutrition, and are made from as few ingredients as possible. Visit https://mikeysmuffins.com/.
