Specialty Coffee Retailer is a publication for owners, managers and employees of retail outlets that sell specialty coffee. Its scope includes best sales practices, supplies, business trends and anything else to assist the small coffee retailer.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/103518
Convenience from both sides Baked goods come pre-wrapped and with many other features that make them both tempting and easy to buy (and sell). BY M AURA KELLER B aked goods and snacks are serious business for specialty coffee retailers, and, despite the economic slowdown gripping the nation for the last few years, consumers are still asking for their favorite warm muffin or scone, and purchasing pre-packaged countertop treats at coffeehouses across the country. That said, the economic recession has caused many retailers to reevaluate the grandiosity of their sugar-laden treasures. In coffeehouses across the nation, retailers are working to meet the needs of time-crunched patrons while providing tastetempting delights that will entice these baked-goods dervishes to come back for more. It should come as no surprise that customers love baked goods, especially morning treats and afternoon pick-me-ups. Whether it is a slice of light angel food cake or a decadent chocolate cookie or a heart-healthy granola treat teeming with blueberries, baked goods can put the finishing touch on a memorable cup 'o joe. When it comes to baked goods offerings, today's specialty coffee retailers are seeking to provide options aplenty, while also providing convenience items for grab-and-go. While some customers enjoy a warm brownie with a decadent glaze of warm caramel on an antique china plate, others want highquality, prepackaged delights that they can consume on the way to the office or school. FREEZE! Looking to serve daily fresh-baked breads, biscuits, and sweet rolls without the required measuring, mixing, or kneading? Frozen dough products require almost no work and provide high-quality breads, muffins, and from-scratch tasting cookies. Baked on premise, these products look, taste, smell and feel like they came from grandma's kitchen. In addition to Individually wrapped treats can satisfy both in-house and grab-and-go customers. Photo courtesy of Earnest Eats frozen dough, preshaped bakery products can simply be baked until golden brown and served fresh every day. One key player in the bake-and-serve arena is Otis Spunkmeyer (www.spunkmeyer.com), with a wide range of gourmet bakery products, including frozen, portioned cookie dough, as well as thaw-and-serve cookies, muffins, brownies and pastries. The company's Sweet Discovery frozen cookie product line features 20 flavors and six sizes of products. The Supreme Indulgence is an upscale cookie dough for your discriminating customers. For those retailers looking to conveniently offer Otis Spunkmeyer's treats to their clientele, the company features individually wrapped muffins for ease and accessibility. Some of the unique muffin flavors include Apple Cinnamon, Cheese Streusel, Orange Cranberry, Harvest Bran, and Strawberry Shortcake. Aroma Ridge (www.aromaridge.com) is a leading distributor of one of the specialty coffee industry's best kept baked goods secrets: Wicked Jack's Tavern Rum Cakes. In addition to their classic Butter Rum Wicked Jack Tavern Cake, which includes moist, buttery vanilla soaked in the finest Jamaican rum, Wicked Jack's also offers Caramel Rum Cake, Red Velvet Rum Cake, and its rich, deep Chocolate Rum cake. The four-ounce cakes serve approximately four, and the 20ounce serves approximately 10. COFFEECAKE AUTHENTICITY Of course, coffee and coffeecake go hand-in-hand, making coffeecake a solid staple for specialty coffee retailers. My Grandma's of New England was the brainchild of Grandma Esther 23