Sweet Stuff Bakery grows into new location in New Albany

Reprint from Louisville Business First

Sweet Stuff Bakery LLC has turned into a booming post-retirement business for co-owners Diane Christopher and Tom Raatz as they prepare to move to a larger location.

The husband and wife started the business in 1985 as a wholesale operation, selling baked goods to local markets and restaurants. About seven years ago, they needed to establish a commercial kitchen to serve those customers and began leasing between 500 and 600 square feet on Silver Street in New Albany.

They also opened their business to retail customers, which turned out to be far more successful than they had expected. Raatz wouldn’t disclose specific financial information about the bakery, but he said the retail business now accounts for as much as 75 percent of the bakery’s revenue.

Raatz and Christopher expanded the bakery three times as other tenants in the building moved out. It eventually grew to about 2,500 square feet in the Silver Street location, and it now employs nine people.

With business growing, Raatz said, “we knew we had gone as far as we could go with that location.”

The owners recently bought a 5,000-square-foot building at 323 E. Spring St., also in New Albany. The bakery will occupy at least 3,700 square feet, and the owners plan to lease a portion of the property, Raatz said.

Key advantages of the new location include ample parking and more convenient interstate access, he said, along with the ability to generate additional revenue through the leased space.

But Christopher is most excited about renovations that are under way.

Windows into the kitchen will allow customers to watch as cookies and cakes are made, and one room will be dedicated to consultations for wedding customers. The building is being painted outside and in, artwork is being installed and portions of the space are being reconfigured, but the owners declined to disclose how much is being invested in the property.

Sweet Stuff Bakery is set to open in its new location early next month.

For more information about the business, visit www.sweetstuffbakery.com.