Dominique Ansel Bakery

What Dominique Ansel Bakery does

Dominique Ansel Bakery (legally International Pastry Concepts, LLC) is a privately held premium artisanal pastry company founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Dominique Ansel in November 2011 with a four-person team on Spring Street in SoHo, NYC. The company is best known for inventing the Cronut® in May 2013 — a croissant-doughnut hybrid requiring a 3-day production process using proprietary laminated dough that is proofed, fried in grapeseed oil, rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and topped with a rotating monthly glaze. The Cronut was named one of TIME Magazine's "25 Best Inventions of 2013" and generated over 140,000 links to a single blog post on its first day. Other signature inventions include the DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann), Cookie Shot, Frozen S'more, Blossoming Hot Chocolate, and made-to-order mini madeleines baked fresh in 4 minutes. The company primarily serves individual consumers, food tourists, and gift buyers seeking premium, novel pastry experiences.

The business operates a multi-channel retail and digital model. Physical retail includes three NYC storefronts (SoHo flagship, Flatiron Workshop, and Papa d'Amour in Greenwich Village) and two Las Vegas locations at Caesars Palace (including a 24/7 Cookie Shot Vending Machine) and Paris Las Vegas (Dominique Ansel Marché). Revenue streams span in-store pastry sales, nationwide e-commerce shipping via DominiqueAnselOnline.com, NYC delivery partnerships with DoorDash and Caviar, three published cookbooks (Secret Recipes, 2014; Everyone Can Bake, 2020; Life's Sweetest Moments, 2024), subscription-based online classes on BakingWithDominique.com, MasterClass instruction, branded merchandise (tote bags, gift cards in $25/$50/$100 denominations), and short-term brand collaborations extending IP into adjacent categories (iota bodycare, Sally Hansen, Butterfinger/Ferrero, GREY GOOSE). The company has grown entirely organically with no disclosed external institutional funding or private equity backing; Chef Dominique remains actively involved in daily operations.

The company's competitive positioning rests on a chef-centric brand identity reinforced by proprietary pastry IP (Cronut® is a registered trademark), global media recognition (TIME, James Beard, World's Best Pastry Chef 2017, Forbes Most Innovative Under 40, France's l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole), and a devoted consumer community documented through a 575,000-follower Instagram account and a customer story program. Distribution remains concentrated in NYC and Las Vegas, with a referenced Hong Kong sister store and Cronut availability cited in New York, London, and Los Angeles, indicating limited but real international brand reach.

Name

Dominique Ansel Bakery

Legal name

International Pastry Concepts, LLC

Website

https://dominiqueansel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Privately held premium pastry company founded in 2011 by James Beard Award-winning chef Dominique Ansel. Operates five retail locations across NYC and Las Vegas and ships signature creations like the Cronut® nationwide, serving individual consumers, food enthusiasts, and gift buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Pastry Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing (31181)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Bakeries (Bread & Daily Bakery) (THAFAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Bakery & Desserts Delivery (CRAHAIAK), Frozen Bakery Products Manufacturing (AFAKAAAF)

Keywords

• Artisan pastry products
• French viennoiserie specialties
• Specialty bakery retail
• Online baking education
• Culinary cookbook publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. In-Store Pastry Sales: Physical retail bakery locations selling pastries, croissants, seasonal creations, and specialty items directly to consumers. Includes Cronut pre-orders and in-store purchases at SoHo NYC, Flatiron NYC Workshop, and Las Vegas locations.
2. E-commerce/Nationwide Shipping: Online store DominiqueAnselOnline.com ships signature products (Cronut, DKA, Cookie Shots, Canelés, fresh-baked cookies, signed cookbooks) nationwide to customers across the US.
3. Delivery Services: Partnership with DoorDash and Caviar for NYC delivery of Cronut pastries and treats, generating revenue through direct consumer delivery orders.
4. Cookbook Sales: Sale of cookbooks including 'Dominique Ansel: Secret Recipes', 'Everyone Can Bake', and 'Life's Sweetest Moments' (October 2024). Available online and in NYC and Las Vegas shops.
5. Baking With Dominique (Online Classes): Video-based baking classes available at BakingWithDominique.com featuring multi-step demonstrations with downloadable recipes.
6. MasterClass Instruction: Chef Dominique serves as MasterClass instructor teaching French pastry fundamentals including madeleines, croissants, and more.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dominique Ansel Bakery produces and sells proprietary artisan pastries and desserts — most notably the Cronut®, DKA, Cookie Shot, Frozen S'mores, and Blossoming Hot Chocolate — through company-owned retail bakeries in NYC (SoHo, Flatiron, Greenwich Village) and Las Vegas (Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas), supplemented by nationwide e-commerce shipping, online baking classes, MasterClass instruction, and three published cookbooks.

Product overview

Dominique Ansel Bakery operates as a multi-location pastry company with a portfolio of signature inventions and branded concepts. The core offering centers on proprietary pastries including the iconic Cronut® (croissant-doughnut hybrid), DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann), Cookie Shot, Frozen S'mores, Blossoming Hot Chocolate, and seasonal soft-serve items. The company operates multiple sub-brands: Dominique Ansel Bakery (Soho flagship), Dominique Ansel Workshop (Flatiron croissant café), Dominique Ansel Las Vegas at Caesars Palace, Dominique Ansel Marché at Paris Las Vegas, and Papa d'Amour (Asian bread concept in Greenwich Village). Supporting offerings include nationwide online shipping, Baking With Dominique online classes, MasterClass instruction, three published cookbooks (Secret Recipes, Everyone Can Bake, Life's Sweetest Moments), and branded merchandise (tote bags, gift cards). The company also runs NFT collectibles through a separate entity (Online Pastry Concepts LLC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cronut® Proprietary croissant-doughnut hybrid pastry made with laminated dough, proofed then fried in grapeseed oil, rolled in sugar, filled with cream, and topped with glaze. Takes three days to complete. Monthly rotating flavors at each location, never repeating.
• DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann) Caramelized croissant-like pastry with tender, flaky layers on the inside and a caramelized crunchy crust on the outside. The bakery's consistent best-seller.
• Cookie Shot Warm chocolate chip cookie shaped like a shot glass and filled to order with homemade cold-infused Tahitian vanilla milk; the milk is sipped then the cookie is eaten.
• Frozen S'mores Ice cream version of a s'more featuring Tahitian vanilla ice cream covered in crispy chocolate feuilletine, wrapped in honey marshmallow torched to order, served on a smoked willow wood branch.
• Blossoming Hot Chocolate Marshmallow flower that 'blossoms' when placed into a cup of homemade hot chocolate, revealing a chocolate bonbon surprise inside.
• Made-to-Order Madeleines Mini madeleines baked-to-order in 4 minutes so they are always served warm and fresh, finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.
• Zero Gravity Cake Fluffy chiffon cake so light it floats, presented inside a balloon that customers pop to reveal the cake.
• What-a-Melon Soft Serve Summer treat featuring a slice of juicy ripe watermelon filled to order with homemade watermelon soft serve, complete with tiny dark chocolate 'seeds.'
• Kiwi Sorbet Bar Ice cream bar designed to look like a kiwi when sliced, filled with fresh kiwi sorbet and a Tahitian vanilla ice cream center with poppyseed 'seeds,' coated in dark chocolate.
• Gingerbread Pinecone Seasonal dessert with 60 to 70 individual pieces of chocolate petals hand-placed around a gingerbread mousse cake to resemble a pinecone, lightly dusted with powdered sugar.
• First Heartbreak Tableside Baked Alaska featuring a meringue-petal flower with Rocky Road ice cream and bergamot center; petals are flambéed tableside when a love note is lit on fire.
• Burrata Soft Serve Homemade burrata ice cream served with confit strawberries, balsamic caramel, and microbasil.
• Baking With Dominique (Online Baking Classes) Subscription-based online baking classes platform offering multi-step video demonstrations (approximately 50 minutes per lesson) with downloadable recipes across Pies, Croissants, French Classics, Brioche, and Gluten-free options.
• MasterClass — French Pastry Fundamentals MasterClass online instruction by Chef Dominique teaching French pastry fundamentals including how to make mini madeleines, the art of perfect croissants, and other techniques; available globally through the MasterClass platform.
• Life's Sweetest Moments Cookbook Third cookbook featuring 40+ simple dessert recipes paired with heartwarming stories celebrating life's sweetest moments. Available signed via the online store and wherever books are sold.
• Everyone Can Bake Cookbook Second cookbook covering basic building blocks for dessert mastery including tart shells, chocolate cake, almond biscuit, mousses, jams, ganaches, and finishings.
• Dominique Ansel: Secret Recipes Cookbook First cookbook featuring signature recipes from the flagship bakery with essays on creative process rooted in classical training and innovation.
• Gift Cards Physical gift cards available in denominations of $25, $50, or $100, redeemable in-store at designated bakery locations.
• Cronut® Branded Tote Bag 100% lightweight cotton tote bag featuring Cronut branding; 15 inches wide x 16 inches high with two top handles.
• DKA Branded Tote Bag 100% lightweight cotton tote bag featuring DKA branding; 15 inches wide x 16 inches high with two top handles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Named one of TIME Magazine's '25 Best Inventions of 2013' for Cronut
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GREY GOOSEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026GREY GOOSE vodka partnered with Dominique Ansel to create a one-day-only 'Berry Rouge Pâtisserie' experience in NYC featuring berry-inspired confections including a limited-edition Cronut. Ansel created pastry creations to support the launch of GREY GOOSE Berry Rouge, their first new flavored expression in over a decade. Brand ambassador Zoe Saldaña was featured in the campaign.
• iota (Nutritional Bodycare Brand)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026iota partnered with James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel to launch a limited-edition Fresh-Baked Madeleines Hand Cream. The product features a microbiome-caring, vegan-friendly formula with shea butter, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. The collaboration exemplifies culinary-cosmetic IP licensing for premium, limited-edition skincare products with gourmet-inspired sensory narratives.
• Ferrero (Butterfinger)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2026Ferrero's Butterfinger brand partnered with Dominique Ansel for the launch of Butterfinger French Toast flavor. Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo debuted an exclusive Butterfinger French Toast Croquembouche for one weekend only (February 27 - March 1, 2026). The collaboration aimed to capitalize on French toast and brunch culture while expanding Butterfinger's portfolio of elevated flavors.
• Sally Hansen (Beauty Brand)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Sally Hansen collaborated with Dominique Ansel to create a custom linzer cookie inspired by nail polish colors. Created in collaboration with celebrity nail artists Kim Truong and Mei Kawajiri, the cookie features edible food coloring and glitter. Available at Dominique Ansel Bakery on Spring Street and for nationwide shipping. Part of Ansel's philosophy of drawing inspiration from fashion, art, and beauty.
• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDoorDash is the primary delivery partner for Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC, enabling customers to order Cronut pastries and other treats for delivery throughout the New York area.
• CaviarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCaviar is an additional delivery partner for Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC, providing on-demand delivery service for pastries and specialty items.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pierre Hermé Paris: Paris-based luxury French pâtissier famous for Ispahan and macarons, with flagship boutiques in Paris, Tokyo, London, and Dubai. Comparable as a globally recognized French pastry brand built on signature inventions by a chef-founder, with retail in premium global locations.
• Bouchon Bakery: Thomas Keller's premium French-American bakery concept with locations in NYC (Rockefeller Center, Columbus Circle), Las Vegas (Venetian), and Yountville. Closely comparable on premium positioning, celebrity-chef founder, NYC + Las Vegas footprint, and viennoiserie/pastry emphasis.
• Levain Bakery: NYC-founded premium bakery famous for its signature cookies, with multiple NYC and Hamptons locations and nationwide cookie shipping. Comparable as an NYC-origin premium bakery brand built around a signature item (cookies vs Cronut) with e-commerce and nationwide shipping.
• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC bakery known for cupcakes and banana pudding with multiple NYC locations, international franchises, and nationwide shipping. Comparable as a tourist-driven, NYC-origin premium bakery brand with signature items, multiple retail formats, and shipping.
• Maison Kayser: French artisanal bakery chain with multiple NYC locations serving viennoiserie, bread, and pastries. Directly comparable as a premium French-trained-chef bakery concept in NYC with laminated-dough and viennoiserie emphasis similar to Dominique Ansel Workshop.
• Ladurée: Iconic French luxury patisserie (macarons, pastries) with global retail locations including NYC, Las Vegas, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Directly comparable to Dominique Ansel Bakery on premium French pastry positioning, physical retail in NYC and Las Vegas, and tourist/gifting customer base.

Emerging players

• Mr. Holmes Bakehouse: San Francisco-origin premium bakehouse known for the 'cruffin' (croissant-muffin hybrid) and viral Instagram-driven marketing. Comparable as an emerging premium bakery that invented a hybrid croissant-format signature item and built a brand around social media virality.
• Sadaharu Aoki: Japanese-French pastry chef with boutiques in Tokyo and Paris blending Asian and French techniques (yuzu, matcha, azuki with French pastry methods). Comparable as an emerging cross-cultural pastry concept blending Asian and French traditions, similar in spirit to Papa d'Amour.

Broad incumbents

• Sprinkles Cupcakes: Established US cupcake and dessert chain with nationwide retail and the original cupcake ATM. Comparable as a specialty dessert retail brand with celebrity-chef founder (Candace Nelson), physical retail, e-commerce, and trademarked signature items.

Regional players

• Balthazar Bakery: NYC SoHo bakery adjacent to Balthazar restaurant serving viennoiserie, bread, and pastries primarily for the NYC market. Comparable as a SoHo-located French-style bakery with similar pastry heritage and tourist/foodie customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dominiqueansel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 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 Dominique Ansel Bakery