A Journey of Resilience: Turning Passion for Baking Into a Thriving Business
Shannon Melde’s story is one of passion, persistence, and a dedication to honoring a personal loss. As the owner of Sugar and Chip AZ, a home-based bakery specializing in chocolate chip cookies, Shannon has been able to transform a simple love of baking into a flourishing business despite facing immense personal adversity.
For over 25 years, Shannon has honed her baking skills, turning her hobby into a professional home bakery. Her early journey led her to Culinary School at Scottsdale Community College, but circumstances interrupted her pursuit of a formal culinary career. However, her love for baking remained steadfast, and she began crafting recipes for family and friends. In 2021, after nearly three decades of baking, Shannon took a bold step—she launched Sugar and Chip AZ.
Though her business venture began as a dream of creating delicious treats, Shannon’s life took a heartbreaking turn in 2022. Her daughter Maddie passed away tragically at the age of 14 due to suicide. Faced with the weight of her grief, Shannon contemplated abandoning the bakery, but she found strength in Maddie’s memory…