A CAKE business is cooking up a storm after outgrowing its original base, with help from a business hub.
Candy’s Cupcakes started life in Stalybridge-based founder Candice Bannister’s kitchen in 2011, then moved into a converted garage at her home.
Now it is in a unit in Ashton-under-Lyne’s Wellington Centre after demand became too big and her team grew.
And she cannot play down the role played by GC Business Growth Hub since she contacted them in 2019 looking for advice on how to grow her business and realise her ambition to ship her products nationwide.
This support was particularly crucial during Covid-19 lockdown, when she experienced a significant drop in cake orders because of the lack of celebratory events taking place.
She was able to successfully launch Cake In A Box cake slices that could fit through letterboxes and gained Hub support with the logistical and manufacturing challenges that this entailed.
Since then, the Hub has continued to work closely with Candy’s Cupcakes, with a team member joining the Lean Champion cohort programme and Lean Manufacturing course, helping to refine the production process as they moved into a larger industrial warehouse.
“I find it very much a positive experience working with the GC Business Growth Hub team’s manufacturing team,” said Candice.
“They are very quick to respond to our concerns and proactive in ensuring their support is available as easily as possible.
“By implementing those suggestions, we have seen some immediate improvement in team productivity.
“Overall, the support from the BGH’s manufacturing team has positively impacted the business. I would recommend them to other manufacturers struggling to overcome business challenges.”
Kelly Gray, Tameside Account Manager for the Hub, said: “Tameside has been working hard to build a strong local business community and the Tameside Means Business networking event is now seeing almost 100 businesses come together, leading to local supply chain connections being made and relationships flourishing.
“The Business Growth Hub is proud to be a key partner of the network and we are looking forward to continuing support and build a fantastic business community.
“Candy’s Cupcakes has been supported by the Hub and is a champion for the local business community including speaking at events and sharing their journey.
“They have grown from home kitchen to employing a team of local residents and it is great to continue work with them as they continue to succeed.”
GC Business Growth Hub has been helping Greater Manchester businesses grow since 2011. You can read more about their impact here – https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/ourimpact.