Sugar Bliss
Sugar Bliss is a woman- and minority-owned specialty bakery in downtown Chicago, producing from-scratch cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies, and catering via retail, nationwide shipping, and wholesale through Walgreens, Mariano's, Meijer, and Macy's.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sugar Bliss does
Sugar Bliss is a woman- and minority-owned specialty bakery founded in October 2007 by Teresa Ging in downtown Chicago, operating a single retail storefront at 122 S Wabash Avenue adjacent to the Palmer House Hilton. The company produces on-site, from-scratch baked goods — cupcakes, French macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies, 6" cakes, cake jars, and morning pastries — using premium ingredients (European Cocoa, Nielsen Massey vanilla, real fruits) with full gluten-free and vegan lines. A signature "blossom" cupcake design, edible-logo customization, and seasonal limited-edition flavors anchor the product identity.
The company runs a multi-channel revenue model: direct retail at the Wabash storefront, local pickup and Chicago/suburb delivery plus nationwide U.S. shipping through a Shopify-hosted e-commerce site, wholesale packaged 5 oz cookies through Walgreens (25 Chicago locations), Mariano's, Meijer, and Macy's online, foodservice distribution via Compass Group and KeHE, corporate gift packages, wedding and event catering, and Sweets Cart rental. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from roughly $2.50 (bottled water) to $800 plus minimums (Sweets Cart rental), with most SKUs in the $3–$55 range and same-day delivery carrying a $5 surcharge.
The technology stack is commodity and consumer-facing — Shopify for e-commerce, Wix for the public site, UserWay for WCAG accessibility, Google Analytics, and an SMS cart-reminder system — with no public API or proprietary platform. The company holds WBENC and NMSDC woman/minority-owned certifications, enabling corporate supplier-diversity procurement, and its founder's profile (Le Cordon Bleu Paris alum, multiple industry awards, 2009 White House Council on Women & Girls invitation) functions as a brand and GTM asset. The business is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding and operates with 1–10 employees, keeping revenue in the low single-digit millions despite a broad channel footprint.
Sugar Bliss firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sugar Bliss
- Legal name
- Sugar Bliss, LLC
- Website
- https://sugarblisscakes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sugar Bliss is a woman- and minority-owned specialty bakery in downtown Chicago, producing from-scratch cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies, and catering via retail, nationwide shipping, and wholesale through Walgreens, Mariano's, Meijer, and Macy's.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sugar Bliss industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Bakery
- NAICS
- Retail Bakeries (311811)
- SIC
- Bakery Products (2050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dessert-First Bakeries (Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies) (THAFAFAH)
Keywords
Where Sugar Bliss is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sugar Bliss business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Retail Bakery Sales: In-store sales at the downtown Chicago retail bakery at 122 S Wabash Ave, including custom cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies/bars, and 6" cakes purchased over the counter.
- Local E-commerce Pickup & Delivery: Online ordering for local Chicago and suburb pickup (122 S Wabash) and local delivery via own Shopify storefront; same-day delivery available with surcharge.
- Nationwide Shipping E-commerce: Direct-to-consumer shipping of select products (seasonal gifts, brownies/bars/cookies gift boxes, macarons gift boxes, cake pop gift boxes, gift packages, packaged cookies) anywhere in the United States via own Shopify storefront.
- Corporate Gift Packages: Pre-built corporate gifting SKUs (Gourmet Cookies, Gluten Free Sweets, Happy Birthday, Gourmet Brownies & Bars, Giving Back Sweets, Cookie Lover's, Favorite Sweets, Ultimate Sweets Gift) shipped to corporate customers.
- Wholesale/Retail Distribution: Wholesale of retail-packaged cookies (5 oz bags) and gift packages to national retailers and distributors including Walgreens, Compass Group, KeHE, Macy's, Mariano's, and Meijer. Launched 2022.
- Catering & Event Services: Breakfast catering packages ($50/$90), sweets catering packages ($45/$85/$130), beverages, custom logos, Sweets Cart rental ($800/2 hours + $375/hr), and event services for weddings/corporate meetings.
- Party & Gift Add-ons: Party rentals including cupcake stands ($25/$40), cake pop stands ($28/$48), cupcake gift boxes, cake pop gift boxes/bouquets, edible logos, custom coloring, and custom sprinkles.
- Wedding Dessert Packages: Wedding-specific dessert packages including cupcakes ($55/dozen regular, $33/dozen mini), cake pops ($44/dozen), macarons ($33/dozen), mini cookies ($48/2 dozen), mini brownies & bars ($44-$48/2 dozen).
- eGift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in $25, $50, and $100 denominations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cupcakes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Macarons |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cookies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bars & Brownies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cakes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cake Pops & Gift Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Party Stand Rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wedding Desserts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Packages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sweets Cart Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | eGift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Same-day Delivery Surcharge |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sugar Bliss product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sugar Bliss is a woman-minority-owned specialty bakery founded in 2007 in downtown Chicago that manufactures and sells cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies, and custom cakes. Beyond its retail storefront, the company offers nationwide shipping, corporate gift packages, catering for events, and wholesale distribution to national retailers including Walgreens, Mariano's, Meijer, and Macy's.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributed into 25 Chicago Walgreens locations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sugar Bliss
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sugar Bliss technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
Sugar Bliss partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Shopify Inc.coreShopify hosts Sugar Bliss's online store and provides the e-commerce platform for sugarblisscakes.com, enabling all online ordering for local pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping.
- WalgreensflagshipMajor retail distribution partner for Sugar Bliss packaged cookies; launched into 25 Chicago Walgreens locations. Featured on Fox 32 Chicago and Walgreens Boots Alliance Healthy Communities Day.
- Compass GroupcoreFoodservice distribution partner carrying Sugar Bliss retail packaged cookies to institutional and corporate customers since the 2022 wholesale launch.
- KeHEcoreSpecialty food distributor carrying Sugar Bliss retail packaged cookies to retail and foodservice customers since the 2022 wholesale launch.
- Macy'sflagshipDepartment store distribution partner; Sugar Bliss packaged cookies and gift packages sold via macys.com online storefront.
- Mariano'scoreChicago-area grocery chain stocking Sugar Bliss packaged cookies; the 'Sweetest Thing' launch of Sugar Bliss cookies into Mariano's was featured in Mariano's Magazine.
- MeijercoreMidwest retailer stocking Sugar Bliss packaged cookies (referenced via banner in website retail store locator).
- Here Here MarketminorOnline specialty retailer carrying Sugar Bliss packaged cookies and gift packages.
- Palmer House HiltonflagshipSugar Bliss retail bakery is co-located at the Wabash entrance of the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Downtown Chicago Loop, providing convenient foot traffic and adjacency to hotel guests.
- Soldier Field / Chicago Bears (Levy, Boka)flagshipSelected alongside Levy and Boka as a newcomer vendor at Soldier Field for the 2024 Chicago Bears season, as reported by Chicago Eater.
- Women's Business Development Center (WBDC)minorCo-hosted 'Cocktails and Cupcakes for a Cause' fundraiser featured on NBC Chicago, supporting WBDC's women entrepreneur programs.
- RangeMeminorRangeMe Premium membership highlighted in RangeMe blog story as instrumental in securing retail distribution for Sugar Bliss packaged cookies.
- Asian American Chamber of Commerce of IllinoisminorFounder Teresa Ging serves as a Board Member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, supporting the AAPI business community.
- Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (SBDC)minorFounder Teresa Ging serves on the Advisory Board of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Council (SBDC).
- Walgreens Boots AlliancecoreFeatured in Walgreens Boots Alliance 'Healthy Communities Day' story on sustainability and consumer engagement around Sugar Bliss products in Walgreens.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sugar Bliss competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sprinkles Cupcakes: National cupcake-focused bakery with retail storefronts, nationwide shipping and corporate gifting; directly comparable to Sugar Bliss on product mix, channel strategy and premium positioning.
- Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC bakery famous for cupcakes and desserts with multiple U.S. retail locations, nationwide shipping and event services; highly comparable brand-positioning and menu overlap.
- Georgetown Cupcake: Multi-location cupcake bakery with nationwide shipping via Goldbelly-style mail order and strong gifting/TV-brand presence; comparable DTC and gift-box model.
- Crumbs Bake Shop: Cupcake and dessert retailer with national footprint and mail-order gifting; serves the same premium cupcake occasion market as Sugar Bliss.
- Baked by Melissa: NYC-based bite-size cupcake and treat brand with nationwide shipping and corporate gifting programs; closely comparable on mini-cupcake, cake pop and gifting SKU structure.
- Carlo's Bake Shop: TV-famous bakery with retail locations, nationwide shipping, wedding/event cakes and branded packaged goods; comparable premium gifting and event services model.
Regional players
- More Cupcakes: Chicago-headquartered premium cupcake and dessert chain with multiple Chicago-area locations; directly comparable product, geography and customer base.
- Sweet Ali's Gluten Free Bakery: Chicago-area specialty bakery focused on gluten-free cupcakes, cookies and desserts; comparable on allergen-friendly positioning and local Chicago customer base.
- Bittersweet Pastry Shop: Long-standing Chicago bakery with retail storefront, wedding/event catering and dessert tables; comparable on local Chicago customer base and event services offering.
Others
- Goldbelly: National marketplace that ships iconic regional foods (including bakery brands) nationwide; an enabling channel/peer that Sugar Bliss could leverage to scale DTC shipping without owning fulfillment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sugar Bliss social profiles
Digital presenceSugar Bliss financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sugar Bliss leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sugar Bliss funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sugar Bliss M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sugar Bliss
What does Sugar Bliss do?
Sugar Bliss is a woman-minority-owned specialty bakery founded in 2007 in downtown Chicago that manufactures and sells cupcakes, macarons, cake pops, cookies, brownies, and custom cakes. Beyond its retail storefront, the company offers nationwide shipping, corporate gift packages, catering for events, and wholesale distribution to national retailers including Walgreens, Mariano's, Meijer, and Macy's.
Is Sugar Bliss a public or private company?
Sugar Bliss is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sugar Bliss founded?
Sugar Bliss was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sugar Bliss based?
Sugar Bliss is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sugar Bliss make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Direct Retail Bakery Sales are the primary driver. The others are local E-commerce Pickup & Delivery, nationwide Shipping E-commerce, corporate Gift Packages, wholesale/Retail Distribution, catering & Event Services, party & Gift Add-ons, wedding Dessert Packages and eGift Cards.
Who are Sugar Bliss's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sprinkles Cupcakes, Magnolia Bakery, Georgetown Cupcake, Crumbs Bake Shop, Baked by Melissa and Carlo's Bake Shop. Regional players are More Cupcakes, Sweet Ali's Gluten Free Bakery and Bittersweet Pastry Shop. Goldbelly is listed as an others.
Does Sugar Bliss have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sugar Bliss.
What industry is Sugar Bliss in?
Sugar Bliss's product category is Specialty Bakery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAFAH, Dessert-First Bakeries (Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies). Its NAICS code is 311811 and its SIC code is 2050.