Biscuits, Branding, and Building a Legacy: Carrie Bailey Morey on Growing Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Discover how Carrie Bailey Morey turned a family recipe into a beloved brand, balancing entrepreneurship, culture, and community.
Hello Founders,
In this week’s edition of The Founders Society Substack, we’re excited to share insights from our conversation with Carrie Bailey Morey, the founder of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. Carrie’s journey from mail-order biscuits to a beloved national brand is filled with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and creating a business rooted in family values. Her story is an inspiration for anyone looking to build a brand that blends purpose, passion, and community.
Carrie’s Journey: Family, Food, and Entrepreneurship
Carrie’s passion for cooking and entertaining began at a young age, growing up in a tight-knit Charleston community. Hospitality was in her blood from the start—her father fondly remembers a night when young Carrie, supposed to be fast asleep, crept downstairs to serve their guests buttered saltine crackers, her favorite snack. This early love for sharing food with others was only strengthened by the influence of her grandmother, a constant presence in the kitchen, always donning her apron. It was this nurturing, homegrown sense of hospitality that would later inspire Carrie to launch her mail-order biscuit business.
From Mail-Order to Hot Little Biscuits
Carrie went on to open what has since become a Charleston staple—the Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit flagship store. But here’s the twist: the brick-and-mortar location wasn’t the initial concept, as many might expect. Instead, it was a creative strategy designed to introduce new customers to her mail-order biscuits.
What began as a marketing move quickly evolved into something much bigger. The store took on a life of its own, transforming her local business into a national sensation, drawing both tourists and locals alike, with lines stretching down King Street. Carrie’s philosophy? Always try something new for the potential of greater exposure. As her flagship store proves, you never know what opportunities might be waiting just outside the door.
Expanding the Brand by Leaning In
Beyond biscuits, Carrie continued to expand the Callie’s brand through a series of ventures, including widely acclaimed cookbooks and even a PBS docuseries. Both were born from simply saying "yes" when new opportunities arose.
When asked if writing 'Hot Little Suppers’ and ‘Callie’s Biscuits & Southern Traditions’ were part of a larger vision, Carrie explained that she saw it as just another way to connect with her growing community of biscuit lovers. Similarly, when she was approached to star in the PBS docuseries How She Rolls, she trusted her instincts and leaned into the experience, curious to see where it would take her.
“Being an entrepreneur is all about exploring every opportunity and finding out what is best for you and how its going to fit into what you’re trying to do,” she says.
Creating a Positive Company Culture
Building a biscuit empire is no easy feat, and for Carrie, she attributes much of her success to the foundation of her business—her incredible employees. The rock-solid company culture at Callie’s Biscuits was carefully built brick by brick, starting with an employee-written manifesto that clearly defined the values and vision for the future. It’s something Carrie reflects on often: How do we create a great place to work?
“We talk about being a family here, and we genuinely want people to feel happy when they come to work,” Carrie explains. “What many don’t consider is that for some employees, work might be the best part of their day. Can we create a space where they can come in and hang their armor up?” This focus on fostering a supportive, welcoming environment is at the heart of Callie’s Biscuits’ enduring success.
Founders Favorites
To round out today’s podcast episode, the ladies shared their favorite business tools and strategies that have helped them streamline their work and foster success:
Meg – Meg recommends Calendly, a third-party meeting platform that simplifies scheduling by allowing clients and colleagues to book time directly on your calendar. It cuts out the back-and-forth and ensures meetings are scheduled with ease.
Carrie – Carrie suggests using the app Assembly, which has been instrumental in helping her create a supportive and encouraging workplace environment. She also advocates for daily exercise while listening to audiobooks on Audible (she recently finished Profit First!)
Hayley – Hayley has just started using Motion, an AI-powered executive assistant that automates your calendar based on tasks and the time needed to complete each one. She loves how it optimizes her schedule, ensuring she stays focused and organized throughout her day.
These recommendations offer practical solutions to improve both personal productivity and workplace culture, helping entrepreneurs and leaders stay on top of their game.
Follow Along
If you loved this recap, follow Carrie’s journey with Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and explore her cookbooks, TV series, and iconic biscuits. Her story is a celebration of resilience, culture, and community.
Want to shop tools and resources inspired by this episode? Visit our ShopMyShelf for curated picks, including Carrie’s favorite business tools and culinary inspirations.
Find us online:
The Founders Society on Instagram: @founderssociety
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit on Instagram: @callieshotlittlebiscuit
Carrie Bailey Morey on Instagram: @carriebaileymorey
Shop our episode picks: ShopMyShelf
Thank you for being part of The Founders Society. Carrie’s story reminds us that with passion, adaptability, and heart, you can create a business that truly makes a difference.
With love,
Meg & Hayley