After nearing a decade working in the corporate world, Kelly Longmire started looking for a franchise to buy into. She’d been a business owner before and had a specific set of standards she wanted to keep.
Kelly stumbled upon Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio, a company founded by Susan Caldwell in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2008. Susan started Flour Power began as a youth fitness program that incorporated healthy eating habits with physical fitness, and it was the cooking portion of the program that gained in popularity. By 2009, Susan broke ground on the first commercial cooking studio, and in 2013, she opened a second location, and by 2016, the franchise was born.
“When I went to Raleigh to meet the owner - I’m one of 15 - the CEO and business owner was like family. If I had a question, I could call any time and they answer personally,” says Kelly, who opened her location in Farragut on May 15. “We have a one-on-one relationship.”
Buying into Flour Power was an easy decision, and mostly because the program is irresistibly easy and fun. Not only are there cooking classes and camps, but there’s also etiquette classes, seasonal events, birthday parties, and after-school enrichment.
“We sell cooking classes in packages of four, six, or eight, and everything we do is themed. It could be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or The Little Mermaid, and then the food is based on those themes,” she says. “Our core customers are age two-and-a-half to 13, but we also have adult sip-and-stir classes. You can bring wine or beer if you like, and those classes are themed too, like Wok and Roll or Taste of Italy.”
The Kids Night Out events are particularly popular. Parents can drop off their kids (ages 5-13) every other Friday night for two hours. There are classes for special needs kids, as well as classes for kids with certain food allergies.
Even amid COVID-19 concerns, summer camps carried on throughout June and July with special precautions in place.
“Any time school is going to be out, we will be open, like camps during fall break and Christmas. When they go back to school, we’re available for field trips,” says Kelly.
The hands-on curriculum means kids get to learn about food and cooking with all of their senses. They learn culinary techniques, flavor palettes, and kitchen etiquette.
“I love kids, and I love teaching kids that food can be healthy and fun. We have science experiments, math, even following directions. We have dance parties and act silly,” says Kelly. “We have a lot of fun.”
Most of the staff at Flour Power are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have a varying degree of experience in myriad fields. Currently on staff is a nurse in medical school and a social worker. One of the employees is Kelly’s own daughter.
“We have virtual classes too, so it’s really kind of neat. It’s just a matter of coordinating with the parents to make sure they have ingredients on hand.”
For more information on Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio, visit FlourPowerStudios.com/Knoxville or call (865) 437-6488.