Meet Jenny Meza

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Meza. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jenny with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

For as long as I can remember, when I get an idea, it completely takes over my mind until I bring it to life. I tend to hyper-fixate on things, and in the context of my business, that works in my favor. My business is always on my mind—I’m constantly coming up with new ideas, and once I fixate on one, I try to work day and night to make it happen.

I’ve never been the type to give up on what I truly care about. I grew up hearing that certain dreams were impossible or out of reach, but I always questioned that—if other people have achieved them, why can’t I?

For a long time, I didn’t know where my work ethic came from because I didn’t always have this drive. But once I found my passion, it clicked. That said, I believe my parents had everything to do with shaping my work ethic. I grew up watching my dad work brutal hours, seven days a week, to provide for us—never once complaining in front of us. My mom has always been on her feet, constantly cooking, cleaning, and keeping everything together. Rest was never an option for them. Seeing that growing up, I couldn’t help but inherit that same relentless drive.

At the end of the day, I work the way I do because I know what I want. I know that success “isn’t a matter of if—it’s a matter of when.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I started Sweet Al Amor in late 2020 when I was 21, simply as a way to distract myself from the pandemic. With life at a standstill—no socializing, no going out—I found myself baking more than ever. Baking had always been something I did for fun growing up, but that year, I was in the kitchen almost every day. Eventually, I realized that if I was making all these sweets, why not try selling them?

By December, I had officially launched my business by selling Christmas assorted cookie boxes. I was shocked that the community supported me by purchasing boxes. I spent the holiday season delivering cookies all over town. That first rush of orders gave me the motivation to keep going. I started creating assorted cookie boxes for different holidays and months, and eventually, I shifted toward selling classic, individually sized cookies.

As I expanded, I learned about pop-up markets and started searching for local events to sell at. I figured out the permits I needed and made sure I was set up to bake from home. In 2021 I got my first job, but after just a week, I realized that I strongly disliked being bossed around. My mom always tells me I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, and with her support, I quit. I took a leap of faith and decided to go all in on my business, determined to prove to myself that I could be my own boss.

The following year, I applied to be a vendor at the Hollister Farmers Market and got accepted. That was a huge milestone—it gave me direction, a steady customer base, and the confidence that I had something special. By then, I had fully transitioned to gourmet-style cookies, leaving the assorted boxes behind. Every December, I honor our roots by bringing back a Christmas assorted cookie box, just like the one that started it all.

As my business grew, so did my ambitions. For years, I set up at markets with just a canopy and a table, but the constant loading and unloading of heavy equipment was exhausting. I had always dreamed of having a food truck, though I saw it as one of those “maybe one day” dreams. I believe in making my dreams happen, so when I found a trailer, I committed to converting it into a food trailer. The project took two years to complete, but in 2024, I finally debuted my pink food trailer. The impact was immediate—we gained so many new customers, and for the first time, I could serve my cookies warm, just the way I always envisioned.

That year was also when it fully hit me: This is my job. For the longest time, I would say, “I’m baking today” instead of “I’m working,” because it never felt like work—it was just something I loved doing. But now, I recognize that my kitchen is my workplace, and Sweet Al Amor is my full-time career. I couldn’t be more grateful for taking that leap of faith.

This is now my fourth year at the Hollister Farmers Market, and looking back, I’m amazed at how far my cookies have taken me. The recipes I’ve perfected over the past two years are the ones I’m finally truly proud of. Our customers have watched us evolve, and their support has meant everything.

After just one year with the food trailer, I knew it was already time to expand. While I love my pink trailer, it limits where and when I can sell. So now, I’m working on my next big step: building a food truck. This will allow us to travel to different cities, operate on multiple days a week, and most excitingly, bake in the truck and serve cookies fresh from the oven.

2024 was a huge year for us—we launched our food trailer, started selling in local stores, expanded to markets outside of Hollister, and began shipping nationwide. Our website just turned one year old, and online orders have been coming in from across the country. Right now, you can find us at Hollister and Salinas Farmers Markets, in stock at certain local stores, and online at SweetAlAmor.com.

We have so many exciting plans for the future, but for now, you can follow our journey on Instagram @sweetalamor to see where we’ll be next!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have been instrumental in my journey are resilience, adaptability, and drive. When I started, I had zero business experience and made plenty of mistakes. But instead of letting them discourage me, I used them as learning opportunities. Through mistakes and a lot of research, I figured out permits, profit margins, and even how to build a food trailer from the ground up.

My resilience allowed me to push through challenges and keep going, even when things didn’t go as planned (which happened more times than I can count). My adaptability helped me continuously refine my products, evolve my brand, and expand my business—whether that meant changing my menu or improving my aesthetic.

Above all, my drive has been the biggest factor in my success. I actively sought out new opportunities and kept pushing forward.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that mistakes are part of the process. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take risks, and learn as you go.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m always looking to connect with event coordinators who are open to having us as a vendor at their events. Events are one of the best ways for us to reach new customers, and I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity to participate. I’d love to be part of festivals and larger events, but I also enjoy smaller gatherings and would love to expand into more farmers markets as well.

In addition to events, I’m actively seeking stores to stock our products—not just locally, but anywhere! We’re more than happy to travel to bring our cookies to new locations.

Another big focus for us is growing our online presence. Social media plays a huge role in introducing new customers to our cookies, so I’m looking to collaborate with content creators who genuinely love sharing what they try. We don’t focus on follower count—we just want passionate people who are confident in posting and excited to try our cookies!

If you’re interested in working together in any of these areas, feel free to reach out at sweetalamor@gmail.com. I’d love to connect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sweetalamor.com
• Instagram: @sweetalamor
• Facebook: @thesweetalamor
• Youtube: @sweetalamor
• Other: Tik tok @sweetalamor