The Cupcake Collection

What The Cupcake Collection does

The Cupcake Collection is a Nashville-based specialty bakery founded in November 2008 by Mignon Francois. The company produces and sells cupcakes, celebration cakes, and related baked goods through three Nashville-area retail locations (Historic Germantown at 1213 6th Ave N, Hendersonville, and Lenox Village), a New Orleans storefront opened in 2018 on Magazine Street in the Historic Garden District, a mobile food truck serving Middle Tennessee events, nationwide shipping via FedEx, and same-day delivery through UberEats, Postmates, and Waitr. Core product lines include classic, mini, jumbo, gluten-free, and vegan cupcakes, celebration cakes in multiple styles, custom and wedding cakes, smash cakes, pupcakes for dogs, and seasonal items including ice cream sandwiches; the portfolio is complemented by branded merchandise, digital gift cards, and a 2025-launched Ready-To-Bake at-home kit.

The company generates revenue through unit-priced retail sales (cupcakes $2.50-$4.00; jumbo $10; minis $15/dozen), packaged wedding tiers ($225-$650), FedEx-based nationwide shipping, event-based food truck bookings, corporate catering, and merchandise. Order management runs on ToastTab for in-store pickup and delivery, with e-commerce on Shopify; no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are part of the offering, and the core product is hand-crafted baked goods built around legacy-inspired recipes, including the signature sweet potato cupcake. The company has sold over 5 million cupcakes cumulatively since 2008 and currently employs 11-50 staff across operations.

The Cupcake Collection is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped, with no identified venture capital or private equity backing; the only disclosed capital event is a $30,000 FedEx Small Business Grant received in May 2023. Leadership consists of founder and CEO Mignon Francois, a #1 national best-selling author of "Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe." The company has earned national media coverage from TODAY with Hoda and Jenna, Southern Living, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider, and holds rankings including Top 5 cupcake bakery in the country, #1 in Tennessee, and #1 in Louisiana.

Name

The Cupcake Collection

Legal name

The Cupcake Collection

Website

https://thecupcakecollection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cupcake Collection is a Nashville bakery founded in 2008, producing cupcakes, celebration cakes, and baked goods sold through three Nashville retail stores, a New Orleans storefront, food truck events, and nationwide shipping. It serves individual consumers, wedding couples, corporate clients, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing (311813), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cupcake Shops (THAFAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC), Dessert & Bakery Catering (Cakes, Pastries, Candy) (HSACAGAI), Online Bakery & Desserts Delivery (CRAHAIAK)

Keywords

• Cupcakes and cakes
• Bakery retail
• Custom celebration cakes
• Gluten-free baked goods
• Wedding cake packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Cupcake and Cake Sales: Direct sales of cupcakes, celebration cakes, and specialty items at three Nashville retail locations and through online ordering for pickup and delivery.
2. Custom and Wedding Cakes: Custom cake orders including wedding cakes with packages ranging from $400 to $225+, birthday cakes, and specialty occasion cakes.
3. Wedding Packages: Three wedding packages: Classic ($400 for 100 cupcakes + 6" cake), Premier ($650 for 180 cupcakes + 8" cake), and Build Your Own (starting at $225 for 48 cupcakes).
4. Nationwide Shipping: Ship cupcakes to customers anywhere in the US via FedEx, sold in increments of 12 for classic size cupcakes.
5. Food Truck Events: Mobile dessert truck serving events including weddings, corporate events, and festivals across Middle Tennessee.
6. Corporate Catering: Office catering for birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate events, handled via contact form or direct phone calls.
7. Bake-at-Home Kits: Ready-to-bake cake and icing bundles sold for at-home preparation, yielding approximately 12 cupcakes or one 6-inch cake.
8. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel, candles, tote bags, and the founder's book 'Made from Scratch: Finding Success Without a Recipe'.
9. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold online, valid for online orders only.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cupcake Collection is a specialty bakery that manufactures and sells cupcakes and celebration cakes through three Nashville-area retail storefronts, an event food truck, online ordering with same-day delivery, and nationwide FedEx shipping. The product line includes classic, jumbo, mini, and pupcake sizes in flavors such as the signature sweet potato cupcake, with gluten-free and vegan variants, alongside customizable cakes for weddings, birthdays, and corporate events.

Product overview

The Cupcake Collection is a bakery offering featuring cupcakes and celebration cakes as its core products, with multiple size variants (mini, classic, jumbo) and dietary options (gluten-free, vegan). The product portfolio centers on classic cupcakes in 12+ flavors (Sweet Potato, Red Velvet, Chocolate, Birthday Cake, etc.), complemented by celebration cakes available in multiple styles (Rosette, Textured, Ruffle, Drip, Sprinkle Surprise) and sizes. Additional offerings include Custom and Wedding Cakes with build-your-own options, seasonal items like Mignon's Chantilly Cake and Ice Cream Sandwiches, and convenience products like Ready-To-Bake Bundles for home baking. The company also offers merchandise, digital gift cards, a food truck service for events, and nationwide shipping via FedEx. The brand is anchored by founder Mignon Francois through the 'Mignon's Favorites' sub-brand featuring her hand-picked selections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Cupcakes Standard-sized scratch-made cupcakes sold in 12+ flavors including the signature sweet potato cupcake, available in regular, gluten-free, and vegan variants for individual consumers and celebration orders.
• Jumbo Cupcakes Oversized cupcakes equivalent to roughly three classic cupcakes, sold individually at $10.00 for customers wanting a larger portion.
• Mini Cupcakes Bite-size versions of favorite cupcake flavors sold by the dozen at $15.00, intended for sampling, parties, and gifting.
• Pupcakes Dog-safe mini cupcakes made with pet-friendly ingredients (rice flour, cinnamon, honey, peanut butter, sugar-free Greek yogurt) sold in four-packs at $5.00 for pet owners celebrating dogs' birthdays or special occasions.
• Celebration Cakes Customizable three-layer round cakes for birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, and other celebrations, available in multiple styles (Rosette, Traditional, Textured, Ruffle, Drip Birthday, Sprinkle Surprise) with a 48-hour lead time.
• Gluten-Free Cakes Celebration cakes produced on dedicated gluten-free recipes for customers with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, available in multiple sizes and styles.
• Vegan Cakes Plant-based celebration cakes that are also gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free, offered for vegan customers and those with multiple dietary restrictions.
• Custom Cakes Fully customizable cake orders allowing customers to choose flavor, icing, filling, up to three tiers, and design finish, with optional gluten-free or vegan conversion for an additional $30.
• Wedding Cake Packages Structured wedding dessert packages combining cupcakes and tiered cakes, with three tiers (Build Your Own starting at $225, Classic at $400, Premier at $650) designed for receptions and rehearsal events.
• Smash Cakes Mini cakes sized for first birthday celebrations and cake-smash photo sessions, available in regular, gluten-free, and vegan varieties.
• Half Sheet Cake Large sheet cake in Rosette design serving 50-55 people, sold at $120 for big-event catering such as graduations, corporate parties, and large celebrations.
• Mignon's Chantilly Cake Limited-edition seasonal celebration cake featuring layers of almond yellow cake, whipped mascarpone cream, and mixed berries, sold by pre-order around July 1-3.
• Mignon's Favorites Collection Curated collection of founder Mignon Francois's hand-picked cupcakes and seasonal specialties, including the Ice Cream Sandwich Trio and Mignon's Mix Assortment.
• Ready-To-Bake Cake & Icing Bundle At-home baking kit bundling ready-to-bake cupcake mix and signature buttercream icing that yields approximately 12 cupcakes or one 6-inch cake, sold for $18 in-store or shipped.
• Ice Cream Sandwiches Seasonal summer treats featuring vanilla ice cream between layers of cake slices, available in Sweet Potato, Red Velvet, and Birthday Cake flavors.
• Nationwide Cupcake Shipping FedEx-based frozen shipping service delivering classic cupcakes anywhere in the continental US, sold in increments of 12, for gifting and out-of-market consumers.
• Food Truck Events Mobile cupcake service for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, festivals, and community gatherings across Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
• Baker's Choice Cupcake Assortment Pre-selected assortment of cupcakes chosen by the bakery, offered as a gifting option including the $50 Birthday Box.
• Graduation Celebration Cupcake Box Pre-packaged cupcake assortment designed for graduation celebrations, sold at $55.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift cards sold online and redeemable exclusively for online orders.
• Cupcake Collection Merchandise Branded merchandise including the 'Made From Scratch' book ($24.99), apparel, signature candles, and themed shirts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5 million cupcakes sold since founding in 2008

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FedExcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with FedEx for nationwide cupcake shipping. FedEx handles all shipment logistics and delivery to customers anywhere in the US. Costs and arrival dates based on FedEx shipping guidelines.
• UberEatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for same-day cupcake delivery in Nashville. Also handles corporate delivery options.
• PostmatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for same-day local cupcake delivery.
• WaitrminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party delivery partnership for same-day cupcake delivery in New Orleans market.
• ToastTabcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline ordering platform integration for same-day pickup and delivery orders at all three Nashville locations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic American bakery famous for its cupcakes and banana pudding, with multiple retail locations and nationwide shipping. Closely comparable to The Cupcake Collection as a destination cupcake shop with national brand recognition.
• Smallcakes: Franchise-based cupcake and dessert brand with multiple retail locations. Comparable in cupcake specialty focus, multi-store expansion model, and celebration cake offerings.
• Georgetown Cupcake: Multi-location cupcake bakery known for its TV show "DC Cupcakes." Direct peer in specialty cupcakes with similar boutique, multi-location retail model.
• Crumbs Bake Shop: Formerly public cupcake chain that pioneered the specialty cupcake retail format. Comparable as a direct competitor in the multi-store cupcake category.
• SusieCakes: Specialty bakery offering cupcakes, celebration cakes, and desserts across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable as a multi-store celebration-focused bakery with similar product mix.
• Baked by Melissa: NYC-based bite-size cupcake brand with strong direct-to-consumer e-commerce and nationwide shipping. Comparable in product format (mini cupcakes, celebration gifting) and digital-first growth strategy.
• Kara's Cupcakes: Bay Area cupcake chain with multiple retail locations and a flagship bakery model. Comparable as a multi-store specialty cupcake brand with similar product variety and event/wedding offerings.
• Gigi's Cupcakes: Specialty cupcake franchise with locations across the U.S. Direct peer in the multi-store cupcake category with comparable product variety and occasion-based offerings.
• Milk Bar: Christina Tosi-founded bakery known for cakes, cookies, and creative dessert formats. Comparable as a celebrity/founder-driven specialty dessert brand with nationwide shipping and strong cultural cachet.
• Sprinkles Cupcakes: Pioneer of the cupcake specialty category with multiple retail stores and the original cupcake ATM. Direct competitor in premium cupcakes with similar omnichannel model including nationwide shipping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cupcaketweets
• Facebookfacebook.com/cupcakecollection
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecupcakecollection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cupcake Collection