Tiff's Treats: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Tiff's Treats was founded in January 1999 by Tiffany Taylor and Leon Chen, who met as sophomores at the University of Texas at Austin. According to company lore, the idea began after Tiffany accidentally stood Leon up for a date; she apologized by baking and delivering a batch of warm chocolate chip cookies, and Leon encouraged her to turn the idea into a business. The pair started the company with just $20, a cell phone, and access to Leon's college apartment oven, delivering warm cookies to dormitories around Austin at night; the company's very first order was delivered to a customer named "Amy."

The company grew steadily, moving into a shared commercial kitchen space on the Drag near UT in 2000, and opening its first standalone location in 2003 in a converted 1940s bungalow at MLK and Nueces in Austin, which continues to operate today. Tiff's Treats expanded its second location to downtown Dallas in 2006, marking its first venture beyond Austin, and continued growing across Texas and eventually into additional states including Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, and California. The company has raised more than $50 million in outside investment over multiple funding rounds, including a $25 million investment from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital in 2017 that came with a board seat, and additional financing in 2018 from investors including tennis stars Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker. In 2018, Tiff's Treats also acquired Nashville-based Jake's Bakes, founded by a fellow University of Texas alumnus.

Today, Tiff's Treats operates more than 90 to 100 locations, employs approximately 1,700 to 2,000 people, and has sold more than 275 million cookies since its founding, with a reported valuation around $500 million as of 2020. The company remains headquartered in Austin, Texas, and Tiffany and Leon are now married, continuing to lead the business they built from a college apartment. Tiff's Treats' workforce includes bakers who prepare cookies and treats to order, delivery drivers who transport warm orders to customers, and retail and customer service staff supporting its stores and online ordering channels.

Company culture and employee programs: Tiff's Treats emphasizes creating "warm moments" through its baked-to-order model, with a strong customer service philosophy centered on the idea that the customer is always right and going beyond mere satisfaction. The company has built a loyal customer following around the emotional experience of gifting and receiving warm treats for celebrations and everyday occasions. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the food delivery and bakery industry, including Tiff's Treats, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Tiff's Treats is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for food delivery employers, particularly for delivery driver roles that involve visiting customer homes and workplaces.

The hiring process for baker and delivery driver positions at Tiff's Treats typically includes an application, an interview, a review of driving records for delivery roles, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a bakery or delivery role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role, particularly for delivery driver positions that involve visiting customer locations. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements. Delivery roles typically also require a valid driver's license.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Tiff's Treats may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Tiff's Treats or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.