Inspiring Conversations with Olandria Hudson of Henny Penny’s Patisserie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olandria Hudson.

Hi Olandria, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Henny Penny’s Patisserie was created in 2012 on Fort Meade, MD, military base. As a full-time student attending college, a mother to four children, and a military spouse procuring a traditional job to assist in supporting my family wasn’t an option. I created Henny Penny’s Patisserie to add revenue to my family finances while developing my craft. Henny Penny’s Patisserie grew each year while I achieved my educational goals.

Due to my husbands military career, we moved to Pensacola, Florida and this became Henny Penny’s Patisserie designated storefront location. Henny Penny’s Patisserie has been in its operational storefront location for three years. Since being at our location, we have supported our community by creating a business support system for small businesses and created an Investment club partnered with Edward Jones Investment Company for minority investors. Henny Penny’s Patisserie has won multiple community and national awards, been featured in multiple media outlets and various magazines. We are truly grateful to have the opportunity to “bake” the world into a better place!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to opening up Henny Penny’s Patisserie wasn’t a smooth road. I wrote the check to secure my location on my birthday, April 22 and didn’t open the shop until later that year in November due to a kitchen build-out, the new ceiling needed, bathroom updates, and saving to buy appliances. I served tables at a local beach restaurant during the evenings and did construction on my business location during the day to open my shop. Did I mention I’m a mom to four kids? Yeah!! Things were tough!! But it didn’t stop me from pressing towards my goals!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own a bakery named Henny Penny’s Patisserie. I specialize in European pastries and southern delights. We are known for our fresh fruit tarts and our mini upside-down pineapple cakes. What sets Henny Penny’s Patisserie apart from others is our culinary education, industry experience, and niche market we serve. I am a black female Pastry Chef. Black female Pastry Chefs are few in the industry. Pastry chefs bring food science education into their work. Being able to create desserts for customers with dietary restrictions and understanding food science is essential for my brand and community. We are the only black storefront bakery in our city, and we are proud to serve all communities. Henny Penny’s recently started an online Facebook Live show on our page called Henny Penny Soul where we feature local chefs cooking various recipes while answering culinary questions to our community. Henny Penny Soul is on Friday’s at 7 p.m.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Trust the timing of your life. Do not rush things. Take time to sit at the feet of those who are in your industry. By allowing things to flow as the universe allows, it gives you time to sort through things properly without pressure. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. If there was one thing, I wish I knew when I was starting out was in-depth the sacrifice of time in my life it would take away. In the beginning stages of your business, you will be consumed with thousands of tasks and things that must be taken care of. I wasn’t prepared for the sacrifice of time away from my family.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/HennyPennysPatisserie