Byrd Cookie Company, an award-winning cookie, snack and gift corporation, recently hosted a grand opening celebration at the company’s new retail store at 6700 Waters Ave. in Savannah, GA, including free cookies and special giveaways throughout the day. During the ribbon cutting, customers lined up outside the store, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the new retail space and to purchase their favorite Byrd items.

The new store, which is located in the former Exchange Tavern building on Waters Avenue, features 16 flavors of cookies for sampling at the Cookie Bar, ice cream sandwich cookies made on-site, exclusive Savannah and Lowcountry-inspired gifts, unique wines from small-batch vintners and carefully selected pieces designed to enhance entertaining.

The family-owned company also unveiled its new corporate headquarters, which relocated across the Byrd campus in order to make room for a new 170-foot band oven that will be installed in the main building over the next several months. Byrd recently announced a $4 million expansion at its main campus in Savannah and will be hiring for approximately 50 new full-time positions.

“We’re in a major growth mode, as we meet the growing demand of corporate clients, including airlines, big box retailers and other major companies,” said Byrd Cookie Company president Geoff Repella. “Once our new oven is up and running in June, we will be baking more than a billion cookies a year. We need to increase our capacity as we continue to grow, putting more cookies in more mouths.”

The new oven, which will complement two existing baking lines, will dramatically increase the company’s baking capacity. Manufactured in Tennessee, the oven will be shipped in 50 truckloads over the next two weeks and will be installed in May and June.

Originally founded in Savannah in 1924, Byrd is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent cookie and snack companies in the United States. Byrd currently bakes more than three tons of cookies daily in 16 delicious bite-sized flavors, including Key Lime Coolers, Georgia Peach, Scotch Oatmeal, Benne Wafers, Chocolate Chip, Pink Lemonade and Salted Caramel. Byrd Cookie Company operates successful retail stores in Savannah, Ga. and Charleston, S.C.

The company’s iconic Key Lime Cooler was the first cookie to win Dessert of the Year top honors at the Int’l Fancy Food Show. Byrd’s best-selling savory items include Benne Bits, Cheddar Crisps and Cheddar Pecan Biscuits.