“Carolina Girls are the Best in the World,” crooned the bastions of beach music, The Chairmen of the Board. And, since we know this is true, it’s no conjecture to say the sweetest treats on the planet are also Carolina-born and bred. Enter Sweet Carolina Delights, a mobile business owned and operated by Fayetteville native Bobbie Johnson, a “Sweet Carolina Girl,” if there ever was one.
Hand-spun cotton candy and other delightful concessions were merely sugar plums dancing in the head of the local technologist — until her sweet dreams became a reality in 2023.
“Everyone is familiar with the traditional blue and pink cotton candy, but we offer different flavors such as tropical punch, piña colada, strawberry shortcake and passion fruit cotton candy,” Johnson said. One fun combination is the Pickle-Rito, a whole dill pickle and cotton candy pairing with the option of toppings.
Another fan favorite is cotton candy cake, a true feast for the eyes and the taste buds. The sliceable 9 or 6-inch “cakes” are made of up to six different layers and flavors of cotton, which can be customized with various toppings and decorations. And who can resist Johnson’s cotton candy glitter clouds? Filled with edible glitter, the fluffy foodstuffs add whimsy to any beverage.
“The cotton candy glitter clouds can be dropped into a drink to make it shimmer and shine. These game changers can elevate birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, etc.,” Johnson continued.
With an ice-cream-like enticement, SCD’s cotton candy push-up pops and waffle cones are perfect for gift bags and party favors. The Flavor of the Month cotton candy feature evokes similar vibes: Blue Raspberry for June and Watermelon for May. What will they think of next? Channel your inner child and just imagine!
The versatile pop-up shop brings its sweetness on a stick to public and private events in the greater Fayetteville area. An edible experience, the cotton candy concoctions are nearly as fun to watch take shape as they are to eat. Owner-and operators Bobbie Johnson and her 14-year-old, Alana, deliver their sugar-coated confections to birthday parties, weddings, showers, family reunions, retirement celebrations, church and school gatherings, grand openings and customer appreciations, fundraisers, corporate events, brand activations and community events of all kinds. So far in 2024, the pair has set up shop at “Er’Body Eatz!” Community Kickback, the Harlem Globetrotters show, Cool Spring Downtown District’s 4th Friday, Follow the Spectrum autism awareness event, The Sandhills Dog Fair, Lexington Plantation Spring Market, The Official Easter Egg Hunt in Sanford, Hope Mills Parks & Recreation 2024 Cotton Tail Trail, Fayetteville Eats Food Festival, Fayetteville Marksmen School Day/Fun Day, Fit4Life Fayetteville Fort Bragg Spring Fling, Jai6 Youth Foundation’s Youth Empowerment Brunch, CityView Magazine’s Ladies Night Out, Monster Truck Nitro Tour, Partnership for Children of Cumberland County’s Little Land: Big Play for Families and more.
Johnson emphasized her daughter’s vital role in their budding business, “Nothing compares to being able to share these moments with my daughter, Alana. She is a huge help in curating memorable cotton candy experiences for our customers and creating social media content.” SCD’s founder further revealed that building entrepreneurial spirit in her children, much like her business-owner parents did for her, was a goal all along.
“The business stems from my desire to provide entrepreneurial skills to my children. My oldest now has an Idea Book where she writes all her business ideas, no matter how big or small. My youngest, Alexandra, is on the spectrum, and this business will be a space where she also learns to be an entrepreneur and build confidence to know that she can take on anything and be successful.”
Johnson also seeks to make her mark in the marketplace. A college internship with Walt Disney World taught her the importance of creating magical experiences for customers, she said. She pays that lesson forward by “providing a magical cotton candy experience in every interaction.” Winning 7th place in the People’s Choice category of the largest dessert festival in America, Dessert Wars, held this April in Raleigh, was a highlight for the mother-and-daughter enterprise.
“It was an honor and not bad for first-timers with a non-traditional dessert,” Johnson quipped proudly.
Look for Sweet Carolina Delights at the June 22 Juneteenth Freedom Block Party in Downtown Fayetteville, or connect with the business on social media @sweetcarolinadelights, by email at sweetcarolinadelights@gmail.com or by phone at 910-494-7692. You can also find the company’s cotton candy and other treats at Kandy Apples by K in Raleigh. Like Carolina girls, they’re “one of a kind.”