Bakery ‘keeps getting bigger and bigger’
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This article was published 08/08/2017 (3057 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A Transcona family is savouring sweet success as they discover that you really can have your cake and eat it too.
Looking for a way to earn a few dollars while she stayed home with her first baby, Cori Poon launched Sweet C Bakery in 2011 as an online business. Since then, she’s taken a bite out of the market, generating so much interest that she and her husband Jeff opened their own Kildare Avenue East store in October.
“It started with just us and now we have five other people on payroll — and we still can’t keep up with the demand,” said Poon, now a mother of three.
“We have been so blessed. We love the location because there are so many families around here. I love seeing the kids’ faces when the come in. That’s one of my favourite parts.”
Sweet C Bakery offers at least eight flavours of cookies daily, baked fresh on-site in an open-concept kitchen. Customers come from all over the city for their mouthwatering cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches, chocolate-covered Oreos, gourmet milkshakes and esthetically appealing candy sushi.
They’ve also earned recognition for their edible cookie dough, which took home top prize in the 2015 Great Manitoba Food Fight. The popular treat comes in 11 flavours, including a new colourful addition called unicorn that is dotted with marshmallows, sprinkles and edible glitter.
“We try to make everything very family-friendly. We have a kids’ table and chalk so kids can draw on the sidewalk. It’s a place where parents can come and celebrate with their kids. That’s what we’re all about,” Poon said.
“And not only do we sell our baked goods but we’ve also become a hub for Manitoba-made products. I’m all about supporting other entrepreneurs, especially local entrepreneurs who don’t necessarily have their own store.”
At the same time, Poon values the opportunity to grow her business from home so she can remain close to their three children: six-year-old Madilynn, four-year-old Aiden and three-year-old Nolan.
“I love that I can be a face for female entrepreneurs and for working moms,” she said. “My husband, who is my business partner, runs the bakery while I still run the business from home.”
In addition to the new storefront, Sweet C Bakery continues to excel in other ventures, such as catering dessert tables for weddings and special events. They also operate wholesale divisions for both Canadian and for international stores. To meet customers’ needs, the bustling business sells its wares on five online portals as well as through Skip the Dishes. They also set up shop at local festivals and markets and they’re talking about designing a food truck for next year.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg for Sweet C Bakery,” Poon said. “It just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
Sweet C Bakery is located at Unit B-1171 Kildare Ave. E. Current store hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.sweetcbakery.com, call 204-291-6331, or email cori@sweetcbakery.ca. To view photos of their sweet treats, follow Sweet C Bakery on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.