Meet Jeanne Dennis of St. Rita’s Cakes in Buckhead

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanne Dennis.

Jeanne, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am Lebanese and my childhood was all about family gatherings and food! Both my grandmothers and my mother, aunts and cousins and sisters all are good cooks. We made everything by hand and it all happened at the table to share, to love and to learn. I started baking cakes to give to others for gifts in my 20’s. And everyone always shared with me that I should sell my pound cakes. I kept giving and as the years unfolded people started asking for my loaves of pound cake. Finally, in 2009, it became obvious what I was to do. In 2009, I lost my job and lost my mother unexpectedly on Mother’s Day morning – all within 40 days. I knew it was time to begin baking as my life’s work.

My loaves are made with great love and I can only hope this little company will move forward so that many many more will be able to embrace the wonder of St. Rita’s Cakes!

I named this business after my favorite Saint who lived in the 1400’s in Italy.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been easy! having your own business is hard work and expensive. I love what I do and love it so much because it makes others so happy. But, there is always the challenge of sales, having your own bricks and mortar, co-packing options and just the 24/7 of it all. It never stops!

I have learned you have to be confident in your decisions. There are no right or wrong decisions. If something does not work out – keep moving forward and make it work.

All will be well.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the St. Rita’s Cakes story. Tell us more about the business.
At this time, I do it all. I still bake some of the loaves depending on the season of the year. Usually the slower season I hold it together.

What I have known for are the loaves of cream cheese pound cake loaves. And for their finishing – their packaging. All the loaves are packaged as a gift with a ribbon and trademarked seal which is my logo. The outer wrap is freezer paper and this allows the buyer to freeze their load up to 8 months. Many customers love keeping all flavors on hand so that when they need one for a company, a gift or for family, it is right at their disposal.

Also, they are so easy to freeze, to ship, to pack when traveling and perfect high-end gifts. The cake itself and the packaging set me apart and I am very proud of the packaging because it was inspired by my father who was a butcher. He used to wrap meats for his customers in either butcher paper or freezer paper. So, it was a natural when I packaged my very first loaf!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Yes. I am hoping to introduce my loaves in the coming years to big brand stores. Having my own storefront is still on my list as well.

Pricing:

• All loaves sell for $17.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stritascakes.com
• Phone: 404.435.3898
• Email: jeanne@stritascakes.com
• Instagram: saintritascakes
• Facebook: St. Ritas

Image Credit:
Matt Moore

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