Four & Twenty Blackbirds

What Four & Twenty Blackbirds does

Four & Twenty Blackbirds is a privately held, founder-owned Brooklyn-based pie bakery established in 2009 by sisters Emily and Melissa Elsen. The company operates one brick-and-mortar retail pie shop in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and sells handmade whole pies (10 inches, serves 8–10 people) at a $46 unit price across multiple channels: in-store pickup, next-day local delivery within NYC (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens), same-day delivery in Brooklyn via third-party apps (Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub), nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, wholesale to NYC retailers and restaurants, wedding and special-event catering, and a non-profit/school fundraising program.

The core product is handcrafted pies built on proprietary techniques including a signature all-butter crust and an oat crumble topping, using seasonal ingredients sourced from local orchards such as Hudson Valley apples. The SKU set covers seasonal fruit pies (Sour Cherry, Blueberry, Strawberry Rhubarb), chess/custard pies (Lemon Chess, Matcha Custard using Ippodo matcha, Chocolate Chess, Nikko Berry Buttermilk Chess via an Oishii berry collaboration), signature items (Salted Caramel Apple with Angostura bitters, the trademarked SALTY HONEY®, Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan, Black Bottom Oat), and rotating monthly limited editions. Adjacent revenue streams include digital and physical gift cards, personalized handwritten note cards, and the founder-authored The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book (35,000+ copies sold worldwide, translated to French and Swedish).

The business model is a multi-channel DTC artisan food operation with supplementary B2B and content-revenue layers. Pricing is uniform unit-based ($46 retail / $45 catering), with pay-as-you-go terms across all channels. Distribution leverage comes from Goldbelly for nationwide reach without physical expansion, plus the third-party delivery network for on-demand Brooklyn demand. The company holds multiple registered trademarks (including "Four & Twenty Blackbirds," "FOUR & TWENTY BLACKBIRDS & Logo," "the Pie Slice Logo," and "SALTY HONEY®") and has been profiled in major outlets including Food Network, Cooking Channel, NYT, Martha Stewart Living, Good Morning America, Oprah, and New York Magazine. The operating entities are Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Inc. and Blackbirds Brooklyn LLC, both US-domiciled, founder-owned, and bootstrapped — no external funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

Four & Twenty Blackbirds

Legal name

Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Inc.

Website

https://birdsblack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Four & Twenty Blackbirds is a Brooklyn-based handmade pie shop founded in 2009 by sisters Emily and Melissa Elsen, selling seasonal artisan whole pies ($46 each) directly to consumers via its Gowanus storefront, NYC local delivery, nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, wholesale, wedding catering, and fundraising programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Artisanal & Craft Bakeries (CRAHAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC), Patisseries & Dessert Boutiques (CRAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Artisan pie bakery
• Handmade pies
• Seasonal fruit pies
• Wedding pie catering
• Specialty dessert wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Whole Pie Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling whole handmade pies (10 inches, serves 8-10 people) at $46 per pie. Pies are made fresh to order with seasonal rotating menu.
2. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations of $10, $20, $35, $46, $50, $100, and $200 for website purchases. Also offers physical gift cards for in-store purchases.
3. The Pie Book Cookbook: Sale of The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book cookbook published by Grand Central Life & Style. Sold for $30. Available for local delivery, store pickup, and through book retailers.
4. Merchandise - Handwritten Cards: Sale of personalized handwritten note cards priced at $3 for adding personalized messages to pie deliveries.
5. Wedding and Event Catering: Bulk pie orders for weddings and special events at $45 per pie. Delivery arranged daily for Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
6. Wholesale: Sale of signature and seasonal pies to quality retailers and restaurants in New York City. Delivered in NYC metro area or pickup available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Four & Twenty Blackbirds sells handmade 10-inch pies (serves 8–10) baked to order in its Gowanus, Brooklyn shop using seasonal locally sourced ingredients and a signature all-butter crust. Offerings include a rotating menu of seasonal fruit pies, custard/chess pies, specialty pies (such as Salty Honey, Salted Caramel Apple, Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan), plus cookbook, gift cards, handwritten cards, and event catering.

Product overview

Four & Twenty Blackbirds is a Brooklyn-based pie shop founded in 2009 by sisters Melissa and Emily Elsen. The company offers a portfolio of handmade pies featuring seasonal ingredients sourced from local orchards, with their signature all-butter crust. The core product line includes seasonal fruit pies (Sour Cherry, Blueberry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Rhubarb Crumble), chess pies (Lemon Chess, Chocolate Chess, Matcha Custard), specialty pies (Salted Caramel Apple, Salty Honey, Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan, Black Bottom Oat), and limited edition monthly flavors. The portfolio also includes merchandise (Handwritten Cards, Digital Gift Cards), a published cookbook (The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book), and service offerings (Wedding/Catering, Wholesale, and Fundraising programs). Pies are 10 inches, priced at $46 each, and serve 8-10 people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sour Cherry Pie Handmade 10-inch pie baked with tart sour cherries in the signature all-butter crust; a summer staple sold to individual customers for $46 per pie.
• Blueberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie Handmade 10-inch pie layering juicy blueberries and bright rhubarb in the signature all-butter crust and topped with signature oat crumble; summer seasonal SKU at $46.
• Blueberry Pie Handmade 10-inch pie with plump, juicy blueberries in signature all-butter crust for a jammy filling; summer seasonal SKU at $46.
• Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Handmade 10-inch pie pairing juicy, fragrant strawberries with tart rhubarb in the signature all-butter crust; seasonal fruit SKU at $46.
• Strawberry Streusel Pie Handmade 10-inch pie with juicy, jammy strawberries topped with crisp, buttery streusel; seasonal fruit SKU at $46.
• Rhubarb Crumble Pie Handmade 10-inch pie featuring tart local rhubarb sweetened with brown sugar and spices, baked in signature all-butter crust and topped with oat crumble; early summer SKU at $46.
• Lemon Chess Pie Handmade 10-inch silken smooth lemon custard pie balancing tangy, sweet, and creamy notes in the signature all-butter crust; year-round custard SKU at $46.
• Matcha Custard Pie Handmade 10-inch green tea custard pie made with Ippodo matcha imported from Japan, served in the signature all-butter crust; year-round custard SKU at $46.
• Chocolate Chess Pie Handmade 10-inch smooth, rich chocolate custard pie made with cocoa powder in chocolate pudding-pie style, paired with homemade whipped cream; year-round custard SKU at $46.
• Salted Caramel Apple Pie Handmade 10-inch pie featuring sweet and tart apples from New York's Hudson Valley tossed in a spice blend with Angostura bitters and homemade caramel sauce, finished with flake sea salt; the company's most popular SKU at $46.
• Salty Honey Pie Original handmade 10-inch pie with addictive sweet, fragrant honey custard finished with flake sea salt; signature cult-favorite SKU at $46 and a registered Salty Honey® trademark.
• Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan Pie Handmade 10-inch pie with lightly toasted, buttery pecans in a classic not-too-sweet pecan pie custard layered over a dark chocolate ganache base; specialty SKU at $46.
• Black Bottom Oat Pie Handmade 10-inch brown sugar custard pie with a dark chocolate ganache bottom filled with toasty oats; specialty SKU at $46.
• Cherry Rye Streusel Pie June Pie of the Month: handmade 10-inch pie blending sour and sweet cherries spiked with rye whiskey and topped with golden, buttery streusel; limited-time monthly SKU at $46.
• Sweet Corn Custard Pie July Pie of the Month: handmade 10-inch pie featuring delicate natural corn sweetness in a creamy custard with subtle earthy undertones; limited-time monthly SKU at $46.
• Nikko Berry Buttermilk Chess Pie Handmade 10-inch limited-edition collaboration pie with Oishii: creamy, lightly tangy buttermilk custard topped with bright strawberry jam made from Oishii Nikko Berries in the signature all-butter crust; sold at $46 while supplies last.
• Personalized Handwritten Card Personalized handwritten note card that customers can add to a pie or pastry delivery for $3 per card.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift card for use on the Four & Twenty Blackbirds website, sold in denominations of $10, $20, $35, $46, $50, $100, and $200; physical gift cards also available in-store.
• The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pie Book Cookbook Hardcover cookbook by Emily and Melissa Elsen featuring uncommon recipes from the Brooklyn pie shop; 224 pages, published by Grand Central Life & Style, sold for $30 and available for local delivery, store pickup, and through book retailers.
• Wedding and Event Pie Catering Catering service for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions offering whole pies (10 inches, serves 8–10) at $45 each with delivery available for Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens; typically ordered in quantities of 5 or more pies.
• Pie Wholesale Program Wholesale program supplying signature and seasonal handmade pies to quality retailers and restaurants in New York City, with delivery in the NYC metro area or pickup at Brooklyn locations.
• Pie Fundraising Program Fundraising program for non-profits and schools in which partner organizations sell pies to their supporters to raise funds for their missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Named 'Artisans of the Year' by Time Out New York in 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OishiiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLimited edition collaboration for the Nikko Berry Buttermilk Chess pie. Oishii provides their premium Nikko Berries for the strawberry jam topping in the custard pie. Available June 16-30 only, or while supplies last.
• CaviarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSame-day delivery partner for Brooklyn only. Customers can order select products through Caviar for on-demand delivery.
• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSame-day delivery partner for Brooklyn only. Customers can order select products through DoorDash for on-demand delivery.
• GrubhubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSame-day delivery partner for Brooklyn only. Customers can order select products through Grubhub for on-demand delivery.
• GoldbellycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNationwide shipping partner. Goldbelly enables customers across the United States to order pies for shipping.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lady M Confections: Premium cake boutique known for its signature mille-crêpes, with boutiques across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable in premium pricing, NYC dessert-brand origin, and national expansion strategy.
• Baked: Brooklyn bakery famous for its pies, brownies, and bars. Most directly comparable on the pie side, with a similar wholesale program and a cult-favorite product approach.
• Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery: Premium artisanal bakery in NYC producing handcrafted pastries, cakes, and cookies. Comparable in craft quality, premium price point, and small-scale retail operation.
• Bien Cuit: Brooklyn-based artisanal bakery producing hand-crafted breads and pastries with a focus on traditional techniques and quality ingredients, similar in craft positioning to Four & Twenty Blackbirds.
• Tatte Bakery & Café: Premium East Coast bakery and café concept with multiple locations, known for pastry craftsmanship and brand-led expansion. Comparable in artisanal positioning and multi-location growth trajectory from a craft-bakery origin.
• Levain Bakery: NYC-born bakery brand known for oversized cookies and pastries, with multiple Manhattan locations and national shipping. Comparable in NYC craft bakery identity, premium positioning, and expansion from a single-store origin.
• Petee's Pies: A small NYC-based pie shop specializing in handmade sweet and savory pies, with a focus on seasonal ingredients. The closest direct peer in scale, product type, and NYC-craft positioning.
• Momofuku Milk Bar: NYC-born dessert and bakery concept specializing in innovative, playful treats (cakes, cookies, pies). Comparable in culinary creativity, brand-led product IP, and expansion of an originally single-shop concept.
• Ovenly: Brooklyn-based artisanal bakery known for creative flavor combinations and wholesale distribution. Comparable craft positioning and emphasis on unconventional, premium baked goods.

Broad incumbents

• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC bakery with a wide product range (cupcakes, banana pudding, pies) and multiple U.S. locations. Comparable as a culturally recognized NYC bakery brand, though broader and more mass-market than Four & Twenty Blackbirds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/birdsblack
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdsblack
• Instagraminstagram.com/birdsblack

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Four & Twenty Blackbirds