Mah Ze Dahr

What Mah Ze Dahr does

Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery is a privately held, New York-based luxury artisan bakery founded in 2012 by Umber Ahmad, a James Beard Foundation Award nominee and former investment banker, and is the first brand under Tom Colicchio's Colicchio Discovery program. The company produces premium, preservative-free baked goods — including signature cookies (chocolate chip, Dark Chocolate Explosion, Vanilla Bean Shortbread), the Heavenly Cheesecake, Dark Chocolate Brownies, All-Day Granola, and curated gift boxes such as Heaven in a Box — shipping fresh nationwide via UPS to all 50 US states from a New York production base and serving walk-in customers through two NYC retail locations: Downtown at Brookfield Place (225 Liberty Street) and West Village. The core technology stack is conventional commerce infrastructure: a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront, Recharge Payments for recurring subscriptions, Toast Tab for in-store gift cards and POS, Adobe Acrobat for the corporate gifting catalog, and Route for shipping protection; there is no proprietary technology, public API, or mobile app.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce, retail storefronts, and an enterprise field-sales motion for corporate gifting, plus a consultation-led process for custom wedding cakes through the 'Unveiled' service and event catering via ezCater. Revenue mechanics span one-time purchases of individual items at price points from $12 to $114, fixed-denomination gift cards ($50 to $500 nationwide shipping, starting at $1 in-store), recurring subscription deliveries on 2-, 4-, or 8-week cadences, volume-priced corporate gifting, and high-ticket custom cakes. The primary customer segments are individual gift-givers for holidays, birthdays, thank-yous, and hostess occasions; corporate clients using desserts for employee recognition, client appreciation, and events; and couples commissioning wedding and celebration cakes. Limited brand extensions include Toro Treats pet treats and a recurring annual tea towel collection. Geographic expansion into Washington D.C. with a new partner has been announced; the company has no disclosed venture funding beyond two small angel checks (Empire Angels in 2016 and Gotham Gal Ventures in 2018) and reports no institutional ownership.

Name

Mah Ze Dahr

Legal name

Mahzedahr Bakery LLC

Website

https://mahzedahrbakery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery is a New York-based luxury artisan bakery founded by Umber Ahmad that produces preservative-free gourmet pastries and ships them nationwide via Shopify, supplemented by two NYC retail storefronts and corporate gifting and wedding cake services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Artisanal Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Commercial Bakeries (311812), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Cookies & Crackers (2052), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Bakery & Desserts Delivery (CRAHAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cookie & Brownie Shops (THAFAGAF), Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Artisanal bakery
• Gourmet pastries
• Corporate gifting
• Wedding cakes
• Subscription cookies

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase of individual items including cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, granola, and gift boxes sold through Shopify e-commerce platform with nationwide UPS shipping.
2. Subscription Products: Recurring delivery of products including Cookie Trio, Heavenly Cheesecake, Heaven in a Box, All-Day Granola, and cookie dough on 2-week, 4-week, or 8-week schedules. Delivered via Recharge subscription platform.
3. Gift Cards: Nationwide shipping gift cards and in-store gift cards available in denominations of $50, $100, $150, $200, and $500. Gift cards delivered by email with redemption instructions.
4. In-Store Purchases: Physical retail locations offering pastries, beverages, and baked goods for immediate purchase. NYC Downtown location at Brookfield Place and NYC West Village location.
5. Corporate Gifting: B2B corporate dessert gifting with volume discounts, custom personalization options, and dedicated concierge service for enterprise clients. Catalog-based ordering with bulk pricing available.
6. Wedding Cakes: Custom wedding cake design and creation with consultation process. Includes various cake styles (Modern, Romantic, Traditional, Bohemian) and multiple flavor/filling options.
7. Catering Services: Event catering for corporate meetings, baby showers, holiday parties, and gatherings. Partnered with ezCater for NYC catering fulfillment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery manufactures and sells artisanal baked goods — including cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, granola, gift boxes, and pet treats — through a Shopify e-commerce site shipping nationwide via UPS, two physical bakery locations in NYC (Brookfield Place and West Village), and subscription deliveries. The company also operates a corporate gifting program with a dedicated concierge, custom wedding and celebration cake services, and event catering via ezCater.

Product overview

Mah Ze Dahr is a luxury bakery offering gourmet pastries and desserts through an e-commerce platform with nationwide shipping. The core product portfolio centers on premium baked goods including cookies (Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Explosion, Vanilla Bean Shortbread, Chocolate Sablé), cheesecakes (Heavenly Cheesecake), brownies (Dark Chocolate Brownies), and gift boxes (Heaven in a Box, All the Things All the Love). The company also offers subscription services for recurring deliveries of cookies, granola, and other items. Additional offerings include corporate gifting programs, wedding cakes through the 'Unveiled' service, and catering for events. The brand operates physical bakery locations in NYC (Downtown at Brookfield Place and West Village) while shipping nationwide via UPS. All products are baked fresh daily without preservatives and ship via UPS with various delivery options including overnight for perishable items.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cookie Trio A gourmet cookie selection featuring chocolate chip cookies, chocolate explosion cookies, and a seasonal cookie; available as one-time purchase or subscription with delivery every 2, 4, or 8 weeks; ships nationwide.
• Heavenly Cheesecake Light and fluffy cheesecake with hints of lemon zest and vanilla bean, in a graham cracker or chocolate crust; ships frozen via UPS overnight and is featured in Food & Wine and New York Magazine.
• Heaven in a Box Best-selling pastry gift box containing dark chocolate brownies, cheddar crisps, chocolate chip cookies, All-Day Granola, vanilla bean shortbread, and chocolate sablé; featured in the Wall Street Journal Off Duty Holiday Gift Guide.
• Breakfast in Bed Breakfast gift box featuring banana bread, gluten-free pastries, seasonal scones, and La Colombe coffee beans; ships nationwide via UPS.
• All-Day Granola Artisanal granola made with rolled oats, coconut chips, pecans, cashews, pepitas, dried Michigan cherries, dark chocolate chips, maple syrup, and olive oil; available in 16-ounce jars with subscription options.
• Cheddar Crisps Savory crackers bursting with Vermont sharp cheddar, cayenne pepper, and Maldon salt in a 4-ounce package; positioned as a hostess gift or snack.
• Dark Chocolate Explosion Cookies Deep chocolate dough rolled in confectioners' sugar combining brownie and cookie texture; named best cookie in NYC by Timeout Magazine in 2020; available in boxes of 12, 24, or 36 with subscription options.
• Vanilla Bean Shortbread Decadent cookies made with pure Madagascar vanilla bean paste and salted butter; named favorite cookie by BuzzFeed's Worth It.
• Chocolate Sablé Cookies Delicate butter cookies with two kinds of chocolate balanced with a hint of salt and a light sugar coating; available with subscription options.
• Chocolate Chip Cookies Chewy, salty-sweet cookies combining dark and semisweet chocolate, sugars, and fleur de sel; named best cookie in DC by Washingtonian in 2023; available in boxes of 12, 24, or 36.
• Dark Chocolate Brownies Rich, intense chocolate brownies with Valrhona cocoa topped with confectioners' sugar; featured in New York Magazine as one of New York's best new brownies in November 2013; ships nationwide.
• All the Things, All the Love Deluxe gift box containing all best-selling pastries including Mah-Ze-Dahr tote bag, brownies, bars, seasonal cookie of the month, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate sablé, vanilla bean shortbread, cheddar crisps, and peanut brittle; serves 12-15 people.
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cookie dough for baking at home with ingredients for 24 cookies; ships frozen via UPS overnight only.
• Toro Treats Homemade dog treats made with peanut butter and oats, named after the bakery's French bulldog mascot; 8-ounce package; ships nationwide and is available with subscription.
• Mah-Ze-Dahr Tea Towel Collection Limited edition 100% cotton, 27-inch square custom printed tea towels released annually; the collection includes all three Mah-Ze-Dahr bakery tea towels.
• Mah-Ze-Dahr Original Limited Edition Tea Towel Original first-year 100% cotton, 27-inch square tea towel featuring the brand's ethos of mystery and desire; available in limited quantities.
• Nationwide Shipping Gift Card Digital gift card redeemable exclusively for nationwide shipping orders; available in denominations of $50, $100, $150, $200, and $500; delivered via email.
• In-Store Gift Card Gift card redeemable exclusively in-store at NYC West Village or NYC Downtown locations, sold via the Toast Tab platform.
• Corporate Gifting Corporate dessert gifting program offering customizable gift boxes, personalized messaging, bulk ordering with volume discounts, and a dedicated concierge for enterprise clients.
• Unveiled Wedding Cakes Luxury wedding cake service with custom designs including The Beloved, Tower, White Tie, Luna, Luminary, Milestone, and Devoted styles, plus donut bars and wedding favors, with multiple flavor and filling options.
• Catering Luxury dessert catering for corporate meetings, office birthdays, baby showers, holiday parties, and housewarmings in NYC, fulfilled via ezCater; includes sweet and savory pastries, coffee, tea, and custom cakes.
• 2024 Advent Calendar Seasonal advent calendar featuring 25 days of surprise treats with a special reveal on day 25, plus a digital content guide for discovering more about each daily treat.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colicchio DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMah-Ze-Dahr is the first Colicchio Discovery brand, partnering with Tom Colicchio (celebrity chef and food television personality). This partnership provides brand validation and strategic guidance from a recognized culinary industry leader.
• La ColombecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee partner supplying La Colombe coffee beans for the Breakfast in Bed product. La Colombe is a premium coffee roaster featured as an ingredient provider and brand collaborator.
• Loews HotelsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a partner on the website. Partnership appears to involve providing Mah-Ze-Dahr products for Loews Hotels properties.
• ezCaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party catering platform partner for NYC catering fulfillment. Orders placed via ezCater for corporate meetings and events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tatte Bakery & Café: Boston-origin premium bakery and café expanding across East Coast metro markets with retail locations and DTC. Comparable artisanal positioning, multi-location retail expansion, and gifting assortment.
• Dominique Ansel Bakery: James Beard Award-winning NYC bakery famous for the Cronut, with retail locations and nationwide shipping. Comparable on chef-founder prestige, novelty pastry innovation, and premium positioning.
• Baked by Melissa: NYC-based bite-size cupcake and dessert brand with strong corporate gifting program and nationwide shipping. Highly comparable on gifting-first DTC, corporate accounts, and NYC retail.
• Flour Bakery + Café: Boston-based James Beard Award-winning bakery with multiple retail locations and a celebrated pastry program. Comparable on chef-led artisanal positioning and premium baked goods assortment.
• Sprinkles Cupcakes: Premium cupcake and dessert brand with retail bakeries across major US cities and nationwide shipping. Comparable premium dessert DTC model and gift occasions focus.
• Milk Bar: Modern bakery brand founded by Christina Tosi shipping nationwide via e-commerce, with cookies, cakes, and novelty desserts (compost cookies, crack pie). Directly comparable on DTC shipping, gifting, and bold brand positioning.
• Levain Bakery: NYC-based luxury cookie bakery known for its signature chocolate chip walnut cookie, with multiple retail locations and nationwide e-commerce shipping. Highly comparable in product mix, premium positioning, and DTC gifting model.
• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC bakery famous for banana pudding and cupcakes, with multiple retail locations and nationwide shipping. Comparable as a heritage luxury bakery brand with strong gifting and celebration cake business.
• Lady M Confections: Luxury mille-crêpe cake brand with NYC roots, retail boutiques in multiple US cities, and nationwide shipping. Comparable as a premium dessert gifting brand with strong DTC engine.
• Jacques Torres Chocolate: Celebrity chocolatier and bakery in NYC known for premium cookies and confections, with retail locations and nationwide shipping. Comparable premium-ingredient positioning and gift-oriented product mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mahzedahrbakery
• Xx.com/mahzedahrbakery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mahzedahrbakery

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Mah Ze Dahr