We are about so much more than making cookies!

We exist to provide meaningful employment to resettled refugee women in Lancaster, PA.

What is a refugee? A refugee is defined as someone who is forced to leave his or her home country for reasons such as war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Lancaster, PA is known as “America’s Refugee Capital” bringing in more than 5,000 refugees here over the years. Currently there are 60 million refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee their countries due to war, natural disasters, and drought. After turbulent and often traumatic experiences, refugees are welcomed annually to our beautiful city of Lancaster. 

In Lancaster, PA, where The Stroopie Co. has grown its roots, many of these beautiful people are working to figure out life in a new country and desire the same things we do: a community of friends, safety for their family, and a way to provide for their new life. We are so grateful Lancaster is where they have settled. We are better for it; thriving in an immersion of countless unique and exciting cultures.

Through paid daily English classes that teach life skills, group educational trips to surrounding cities and states, and simply a safe and welcoming work environment, Stroopies is here to make an impact and to learn from the amazing women we employ.

It is more than just a business and a job.

How did we start?

During frequent visits to Europe from Indonesia, Ed McManness and his family enjoyed the delicious Dutch stroopwafel — always served with a hot drink in canal side cafes. It became a tradition to buy extras for morning treats or afternoon snacks, and for gifts to friends and family in the U.S. and Indonesia. Everyone everywhere loved them and wondered where to get more, so in 2007, Dan Perryman and his family left Las Vegas to work with Ed. Together they founded Stroopies in 2008 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Since the very beginning, Stroopies has sought to

1) Provide meaningful employment in support of refugees as they work to overcome language and cultural barriers

2) Make high quality stroopwafels available to the Lancaster community and throughout the U.S.

Currently, the Stroopies team makes an average of 10,000 stroopwafels each week, with a goal to scale up for more impact and more job creation in service to the refugee community. We celebrate it as success when refugee employees move into positions of leadership within our company, or are able to use their positions with Stroopies as a springboard into other occupations after acclimating to language and culture here in the U.S. 

In 2010, Jonathan & Jennie Groff joined the Stroopies family, with a desire to see the business continue to grow in support of the refugee community. Jonathan’s background working with sweets in his family business, Groff’s Candies, made it a natural fit. In 2016, they opened The Lancaster Sweet Shoppe as the home of Stroopies. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, you can’t miss the amazing aroma of cinnamon and caramel emanating from the waffle presses as each stroopwafel is handmade on site.

So what exactly are Stroopies?

Stroopies are a Lancaster-made Dutch stroopwafel, pressed in a waffle iron using local ingredients from companies committed to social responsibility. Two cinnamon waffles sandwich a layer of homemade caramel making a delicious cookie that is just the right size to rewarm on top of your favorite mug over a hot beverage. Stroopies are also the perfect compliment to ice cream! 

With options including everything from gluten-free to a variety of decadent flavors dipped in locally-made Wilbur Chocolate, there is something for everyone to love.