Airport sweet spot

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This article was published 25/06/2024 (815 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Now boarding — and don’t forget the cake. Or the macarons, cookie sandwiches and candied popcorn.

Jenna Rae Cakes’ newest shop at the city’s airport is a departure from its three other Winnipeg sites.

“We’ve always kind of talked about … being in the airport one day,” said Ashley Kosowan, co-owner of Jenna Rae Cakes.

But it was “more of a dream” until recently, when she and co-founder Jenna Hutchinson were approved to build their own shop in the Richardson International Airport’s departures section.

Now, construction is occurring near passengers waiting to board domestic and international flights.

Kosowan aims to have the 300- to 400-square-foot space open by mid-July.

“It’s just a great spot to be in to sell sweet treats,” she enthused. “We love that the airport is a completely different customer base.”

In February, the Winnipeg Airports Authority announced some 4.1 million passengers had travelled through the airline hub in 2023.

Travellers have told the WAA they’re looking to “bring a little piece of Manitoba with them” when leaving the province, said Michel Rosset, the organization’s spokesman.

Jenna Rae Cakes is “a great addition” to meet demand, Rosset commented. “We’re … always looking for ways to enhance what we provide.”

The shop fills the formerly empty space near Gate 9. Jenna Rae Cakes leadership had pondered for more than a year how to get products into the airport, Kosowan explained.

The Winnipeg-born business hit its 10-year anniversary in 2024. It has outposts on Academy Road and Island Shore Boulevard and at The Forks.

Hutchinson and Kosowan, who are twin sisters, figured the way to sell products in the airport would be through established vendors. When that fell flat, they arranged a meeting with airport officials and pitched their business.

The Winnipeg Airports Authority showcased different spaces Jenna Rae Cakes could build upon, Kosowan said. Ultimately, the sisters decided on the departures area.

“I love stocking up with snacks before a plane ride and I’m sure a lot of people are the same,” Kosowan remarked.

It’s also a good place for gift-buying, she added — which is why the company is introducing “mini cakes,” or four-inch layer cakes. The treats come in acrylic boxes with bows and gift tags. Chocolate, vanilla and salted caramel toffee will be on the menu.

“We were trying to figure out a way to have a cute layered cake that would be easy to transport,” Kosowan said. “It can … be a hassle if you have a big box with you that has to fit under the seat.”

She’s hoping people have a sweet tooth at 4 a.m. — that’s when Jenna Rae Cakes will open. It closes with the last flight at 10 p.m.

Staff will transport baked goods from the company’s headquarters, which is located near the airport. Six employees will work in the airport storefront.

Meanwhile, Jenna Rae Cakes will continue to operate its three locations. The new addition shouldn’t take a bite out of business, Kosowan predicted.

“I think being at the airport kind of solidifies us as a Winnipeg institution,” she added. “We’re just really proud and excited.”

The news comes four years after Jenna Rae Cakes released its bestselling first cookbook, which hit store shelves of major retailers. A second cookbook, called Jenna Rae Cakes at Home, is set for release in October.

Meantime, construction at Stella’s Café and Bakery, near the airport’s departures entrance, is also ongoing. It shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, after some nine years in the location.

The eatery should reopen this summer, according to Rosset. It will have a bigger restaurant footprint than pre-pandemic.

Traffic within Richardson International Airport continues to climb. During the first three months of 2024, the WAA clocked 965,617 passengers, the highest number since 2019 (which logged 1.13 million during the same time frame).

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com