A “pandemic proof” bakery chain which sells egg-free vegetarian cakes has opened in Plymouth city centre as it expands into the South West.
Cake Box has started trading in Cornwall Street, in a unit last used by Holland and Barrett, creating 12 jobs and already selling about 200 slices of freshly made cake every day. It sells a huge range of celebration and personalised cakes, made up fresh on the premises, and all egg-free.
The store is being run by franchisee Bharat Thapa, owner of the Barbican’s Himalayan Spice restaurant, who has invested about £200,000 into the venture.
He’s delighted with the response from sweet-toothed Plymothians after only a few days of trading and said: “It’s been beyond my expectations. I’m really happy. Lots of people are interested and we are selling more than 200 slices a day.”
Cake Box has been a national business phenomenon since launching with one store in London in 2008. It now has more than 180 branches across the UK and is continuing to open more, with Exeter being looked at next. But it has only just penetrated into the South West, with Plymouth being its only outlet west of Bristol so far.
The company is listed on the Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and for the six months to the end of September 2021 reported a profit of £3.7m - up a mouth-watering 122%.
Co-founder Sukh Chamdal, who started the enterprise in London’s East End, described the business as “pandemic proof” because when times are tough people always turn to cake.
And, in this case, the cakes they turn to are made without the use of eggs, because Mr Chamdal and his family follow a strict lacto vegetarian diet.
The goodies are not vegan, however, because they are made with fresh cream, but Mr Thapa said this is a market that is being looked at.
“We have had a lot of interest from vegans,” he said. “About 20% of our customers have asked for vegan cakes, so we will have to look into that.”
Mr Thapa said that although he is still committed to the Himalayan Spice Nelpalese restaurant he wanted to work more during the day, to spend more time with his children.
“I thought about a franchise,” he said, “I heard about Cake Box, applied and they said that as there was no branch in the far South West they were looking for one. I got the lease and a business loan, used some of my own resources, and have invested between £170,000 and £180,000, with all new equipment including a freezer and chiller room. Including stock it will be £200,000.
“We make all the cakes here. We can make cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals such as Christmas. People can give us a message they want on the cake, we can have it ready in hours. We open at 11am but the staff are here from 10am. We are open seven days a week, 11am to 7pm and noon to 6pm on Sunday.”
