What Black Star Pastry does

Black Star Pastry is a Sydney-based boutique patisserie founded in 2008 by Christopher Thé, operating nine characterised retail locations across Sydney spanning standalone stores (Rosebery, Newtown) and mall kiosks in major shopping centres (Westfield Chatswood, Westfield Parramatta, Westfield Burwood, Castle Towers, Westfield Hurstville, Macquarie Centre, The Galeries Sydney CBD). The company produces a handcrafted range of cakes, pastries, savoury items and beverages using premium ingredients and artisanal techniques, anchored by its signature Strawberry Watermelon Cake - declared the 'world's most Instagrammed cake' by the New York Times - and an extended slab range (Raspberry Lychee, Origami Lemon, Mango Yuzu, Zen Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Orange Cake, Black Forest Cake) plus tiered celebration cakes (2-4 tiers, $450-$1,250), seasonal limited-edition SKUs, and a signature beverages programme using ST. ALi coffee.

The business operates a multi-channel distribution model combining company-owned retail, a direct e-commerce platform with Sydney-metro delivery (~$13 weekday / $16 weekend delivery fees, free over $125), in-store pickup, a wholesale programme supplying cafes, restaurants, hotels, caterers and retailers, and a celebration/catering service for weddings and corporate events. A sustained collaboration programme with over 25 brand partners (Amazon Prime Video, QT Hotels & Resorts, L'Occitane, Whittaker's, CASETiFY, NGV, KOKO Black, Café Kitsuné, Black Blaze, and others) drives recurring limited-edition product launches tied to cultural events and extends into co-branded merchandise (candles, reusable cups, phone cases, apparel). Black Star Pastry is privately held and founder-controlled, with no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company.

Revenue is generated through unit-priced one-off sales across consumer and B2B channels: retail cake slices ($8-$13), whole cakes ($85-$450), tiered cakes ($450-$1,250), catering boxes ($90-$180), pastries and savoury items, bottled and freshly prepared signature drinks ($10-$13), apparel and retail merchandise ($2-$100), delivery fees, and wholesale supply contracts. Pricing is consistent across channels and announced publicly. Customer segments span individual consumers (celebrations, gifting, everyday treats), corporate clients (office events, financial-year celebrations), weddings and special events (tiered cakes), and wholesale/B2B partners (cafes, hotels, caterers).

Name

Black Star Pastry

Legal name

Black Star Pastry

Website

https://blackstarpastry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Black Star Pastry is a Sydney-based boutique patisserie founded in 2008 by Christopher Thé, operating nine retail locations and an e-commerce platform selling signature cakes, pastries, signature drinks, catering, and merchandise to individual consumers, wedding and corporate clients, and wholesale partners across Sydney, Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Patisserie and Specialty Bakery

NAICS

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

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bread & Pastry Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAC), Dessert Cafes (Coffee + Desserts) (THAFADAH), Dessert-First Bakeries (Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies) (THAFAFAH)

Keywords

• Artisan patisserie
• Custom celebration cakes
• Handcrafted desserts
• Wedding tiered cakes
• Wholesale bakery supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: Sale of signature cakes, pastries, savoury items and beverages through 9 company-owned retail locations and e-commerce platform. Products include individual slices ($8-$13), whole cakes ($50-$450), tiered celebration cakes ($450-$1,250), catering boxes, and retail merchandise.
2. Wholesale Distribution: B2B wholesale supplying cakes, pastries, croissants, Danish pastries, pies, quiches and catering items to cafes, restaurants, hotels, caterers and retailers.
3. Delivery Services: Delivery fees of $13 (Monday-Friday) and $16 (Saturday-Sunday) for orders, with free delivery on orders over $125 within delivery area covering Sydney metro.
4. Beverage Sales: Signature drinks including Iced Strawberry Watermelon Latte, Raspberry Lychee Iced Tea, Espresso Yuzu Fizz, Watermelon Mint Soda, Cinnamon Cloud Cold Brew, Iced Matcha Latte, Iced Black Sesame Latte.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Black Star Pastry is a Sydney-based boutique patisserie that designs, produces and retails handcrafted cakes (most famously the Strawberry Watermelon Cake), pastries, savouries, signature drinks and catering desserts through nine Sydney retail locations, an e-commerce platform with home delivery, and a B2B wholesale programme. It also sells branded apparel and limited-edition collaboration products, with the Strawberry Watermelon Cake declared 'the world's most Instagrammed cake' by the New York Times.

Product overview

Black Star Pastry is a Sydney-based boutique patisserie founded in 2008, operating nine physical store locations across Sydney. The company offers a unified product portfolio anchored by its signature Strawberry Watermelon Cake — declared the world's most Instagrammed cake by the New York Times — supplemented by a core slab cake range (Raspberry Lychee, Origami Lemon, Mango Yuzu, Zen Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Orange Cake with Persian Figs, Black Forest Cake). These are extended into a tiered celebration cakes line (requiring 5 days' advance order), an All-Star Cake Box tasting assortment, vegan options (Flower Cupcakes), seasonal limited-edition offerings, and a chilled bottled drinks range. Supporting the cakes are parallel product lines: handcrafted sweet pastries (croissants, pain Suisse, palmiers), savoury pastries (pies, quiches, sausage rolls), a signature beverages programme (lattes, iced teas, cold brews using ST. ALi coffee), catering and wholesale programmes, a delivery/pickup service across Greater Sydney, and apparel and retail merchandise. Time-limited collaborations with external brands (QT Hotels, Amazon Prime Video, L'Occitane, NGV, CASETiFY, and others) add seasonal novelty to the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strawberry Watermelon Cake Signature cake with layers of almond dacquoise, rose-scented cream, and fresh watermelon, topped with strawberries, grapes, pistachios and dried rose petals; available in individual portions (from AUD 13) to whole cakes (up to AUD 450), targeting premium celebration and gifting occasions.
• Signature Cakes (Slab Range) Handcrafted slab cakes (Raspberry Lychee, Origami Lemon, Mango Yuzu, Zen Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Orange Cake with Persian Figs, Black Forest) sold in single portions through to large whole-cake formats at premium price points for celebrations and everyday indulgence.
• Tiered Celebration Cakes Multi-tier (2-, 3- and 4-tier) versions of Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Yuzu, Raspberry Lychee, Origami Lemon, Carrot and Orange cakes in naked or rustic styles, priced AUD 450-1,250, targeting weddings, engagements and large celebrations.
• Sweet Pastries Handcrafted sweet pastries including croissants, palmiers, banana breads and pain Suisse, available individually and in mini boxes for retail and catering; targets cafe and individual consumers seeking premium viennoiserie.
• Savoury Pastries Handcrafted savoury pastries such as Lamb Shoulder Pie, Sausage Roll, and Goat's Cheese & Leek Quiche, sold individually and in mini boxes for events, office catering and retail.
• Limited Edition and Seasonal Range Seasonal limited-edition items such as Truffle Chicken and Leek Pie, Truffle Mushroom and Herb Quiche and Cinnamon Scroll, sold at premium unit prices and rotated throughout the year.
• Signature Drinks In-store beverage menu of iced and hot lattes, iced teas, fizz sodas and cold brews using ST. ALi coffee and Asian-inspired flavour pairings, sold alongside cake and pastry purchases across all locations.
• Bottled / Chilled Drinks Bottled chilled retail beverages (Butterfly Pea & Yuzu Spritz, House Made Cold Brew, Bottled Strawberry Matcha Latte) priced AUD 10-13, sold online and in-store for off-premise consumption.
• All-Star Cake Box (Catering Box) Curated tasting box of six signature cake slices (Strawberry Watermelon, Raspberry Lychee, Mango Yuzu, Black Forest, Origami Lemon, Zen Cheesecake) priced AUD 90 for events, gifting and office sharing.
• Vegan Flower Cupcake Vegan chocolate cupcakes with plant-based buttercream and floral piping sold individually or in 16-unit boxes, providing a dairy-free option for celebrations and events.
• Black Star Celebrations (Event Catering Service) Event catering service for weddings, corporate events, birthdays and kids parties, including bespoke tiered cakes, catering packages and a dedicated celebrations team handling custom enquiries.
• Wholesale Programme B2B wholesale supply of single-serve cakes, whole cakes, croissants, Danish pastries, pies, quiches and catering items to cafes, restaurants, hotels, caterers and retailers via enquiry-based onboarding.
• Delivery and Pickup Service Sydney-metro same-day cake delivery (10:00am-5:00pm windows, AUD 13 weekday / AUD 16 weekend fees, free on orders over AUD 125) plus in-store pickup at all nine locations.
• Apparel and Branded Merchandise Branded apparel and retail merchandise including Head-In-The-Stars Hoodie, Dough Tee, Chocolate Plaques, Candles, Cooler Bags and ST. ALi coffee blends, sold online and in-store as supplementary retail offerings.
• Limited-Edition Collaboration Products Time-limited co-developed or co-branded products (cakes, pastries, candles, lifestyle goods, giveaways) created with partner brands across food, beverage, hospitality, lifestyle, arts and media sectors to drive novelty and earned media.
• Retail Take-Home Products Take-home retail products including chocolate plaques, branded candles, cake cooler bags and ST. ALi espresso blends sold online and in-store as brand extensions of the patisserie offer.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KinokuniyaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2026Black Star Pastry teamed up with Kinokuniya to celebrate the opening of their Chatswood store with a special giveaway bringing together the joy of books and desserts.
• Whittaker's ChocolateminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Limited-edition chocolate hot cross bun bringing together Black Star Pastry's signature craftsmanship and Whittaker's premium chocolate for Easter 2026.
• Bondi BoostminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Black Star Pastry teamed up with Bondi Boost for Lunar New Year promotions where customers could receive a festive red envelope with a deluxe 30ml Miracle Hair Mask with qualifying purchases.
• Archie RoseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Black Star Pastry and Archie Rose reimagined beloved holiday mince tarts with a festive twist featuring Raw Honey Harvest Gin blended through signature fruit mince for Christmas 2025.
• XOPP by Golden CenturyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Two Sydney food legends came together to reinvent a classic, combining XOPP's celebrated XO seafood flavours with Black Star Pastry's handcrafted pastry expertise in a limited-edition Father's Day pie.
• L'OccitaneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Black Star Pastry presented the L'Amande Cake, a refined almond cake inspired by L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil, featuring almond mousse, citrus savoy sponge, pear-rosemary compote, and almond frangipane with golden glaze.
• South Dowling SandwichesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Black Star Pastry and South Dowling Sandwiches joined forces to create a limited-edition pithivier pie, celebrating bold flavours and exceptional craftsmanship.
• QT Hotels & ResortsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Black Star Pastry partnered with QT Hotels & Resorts to create 'Eat Your Heart Out', a limited-edition cake collection inspired by modern romance, heartbreak, and everything in between for Valentine's Day 2025.
• Black BlazeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Black Blaze partnered with Black Star Pastry to transform the iconic Strawberry Watermelon Cake into a luxurious candle, bringing its signature fruity, floral and creamy notes to life.
• Amazon Prime VideominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Black Star Pastry and Amazon Prime Video partnered to celebrate 'You're Cordially Invited' with a limited-edition Jasmine Grape Cake inspired by the romance and wedding themes of the film.
• Lotus GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Black Star Pastry and Lotus Group partnered to celebrate Lunar New Year with a limited-edition trio of travel cakes representing prosperity, wealth and longevity.
• Hugo's DeliminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Black Star Pastry and Hugo's Deli presented a limited-edition sandwich inspired by the iconic Strawberry Watermelon Cake, featuring marinated watermelon, miso, and yuzu slaw in fluffy shokupan milk bread.
• Kōri Ice CreamminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023A limited two-week collaboration bringing together iconic cakes and signature scoops for Melbourne dessert lovers, featuring a curated selection of Black Star Pastry favorites alongside Kōri's fan favourite ice creams.
• CASETIFYminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Black Star Pastry and CASETiFY came together to celebrate friendship and joy with a new lifestyle collaboration featuring four exclusive phone case designs inspired by connection and creativity.
• KOKO BlackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Black Star Pastry and Koko Black reimagined the classic hot cross bun with a rich chocolate twist featuring handcrafted 60% dark chocolate folded into soft, cushiony dough for Easter 2023.
• Baker's Dozen at Melbourne Food & Wine FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2023Black Star Pastry joined Baker's Dozen at Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, a large-format celebration bringing together some of Melbourne's leading bakers and cake makers.
• Frank GreenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Black Star Pastry and Frank Green created a stylish reusable cup designed for coffee lovers on the go, combining sustainability, design, and everyday ritual.
• Xu ZhenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Black Star Pastry presented BSP AP 003, a collaboration with contemporary artist Xu Zhen, transforming his Under Heaven series into an edible work of art featuring a playful fusion of art and pastry.
• Cargo CrewminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2022Black Star Pastry and CargoCrew came together for the BFF Giveaway celebrating friendship with the chance to win one of three exclusive packs featuring Black Star Pastry favourites and Cargo Crew essentials.
• St. ALiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Black Star Pastry and ST.ALi celebrated International Coffee Day with a limited-edition Latte Danish inspired by the daily coffee ritual, featuring buttery pastry filled with coffee custard and topped with delicate milk foam.
• Moulin Rouge! The MusicalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2022Black Star Pastry celebrated Moulin Rouge! The Musical Sydney season with a limited-edition Star-Crossed Croissant inspired by the romance and drama of the show.
• KOKO BlackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Black Star Pastry and Koko Black celebrated World Chocolate Day with 'Theobroma: Food of the Gods', a limited-edition seven layer cake exploring cacao in its most natural and decadent form.
• Melbourne Food & Wine FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2022Black Star Pastry presented ARI-GÂTEAUX, a Japanese-inspired creation reimagining sushi as an edible illusion of cake for Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
• PS40minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Black Star Pastry and PS40 created a limited-edition range of cake-inspired cocktails translating iconic desserts into liquid form, inspired by Strawberry Watermelon Cake, Japanese Forest Cake, and Pistachio Lemon Zen.
• NGV (National Gallery of Victoria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Black Star Pastry and the NGV presented the Sunflower Cake, an edible tribute to Claude Monet's Bouquet of Sunflowers featuring layers of basil sponge, honeycomb mousse, chocolate and sunflower seed sponge, and mandarin marmalade.
• MilkbarminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2021Black Star Pastry brought its iconic cakes to Bentleigh for a limited-time pop-up offering Melbourne's Bayside a taste of Sydney's most loved creations.
• KOKO BlackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Black Star Pastry and Koko Black celebrated World Chocolate Day with Meteor Cake, a decadent 10-layer chocolate creation inspired by the wonders of space.
• Rain Room / Jackalope PavilionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Black Star Pastry presented the Rain Cake, an edible interpretation of Random International's Rain Room at the Jackalope Pavilion as BSP AP 001.
• Café KitsunéminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Black Star Pastry joined Café Kitsuné's Sydney debut with a limited-edition dessert collaboration celebrating French and Japanese influences featuring the Mango Yuzu Cake and custom fox-shaped gingerbread and shortbread cookies.
• IncuminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Black Star Pastry teamed up with Incu to celebrate the opening of two of their CBD stores with a limited-edition collaboration featuring custom shortbread in signature shopping bags.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Adriano Zumbo: Australian patisserie brand known for designer cakes, macarons and pastries with retail locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Most direct Australian comparable given shared cake-led, premium-patisserie positioning and similar celebration-cake customer base.
• Lady M Confections: Luxury mille-crêpe cake brand with flagship presence in New York and global rollout (Singapore, Hong Kong, LA, Melbourne). Closely comparable as a premium, Instagram-driven cake specialist competing in the same 'shareable luxury dessert' category.
• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic New York-based bakery famous for its cupcakes and banana pudding, with international franchised locations. Comparable as a premium, single-product-anchored bakery brand monetising via retail stores, e-commerce and wholesale.
• Dominique Ansel Bakery: New York bakery credited with the Cronut, with London and Tokyo locations. Comparable as a founder-led, single-SKU-virality-driven patisserie that scaled from a flagship cake/pastry into a global premium brand.
• Bourke Street Bakery: Sydney-based premium bakery group with multiple Sydney locations and a strong wholesale/café supply programme. Comparable on geography, multi-store retail model and B2B bakery/wholesale distribution.
• Gelato Messina: Australia's leading premium dessert brand with 70+ stores across Australia and limited-edition collaboration drops (e.g., with St. ALi, KOKO Black-adjacent brands). Comparable on premium dessert positioning, collaboration-led marketing and Australian multi-store retail scale.
• Kōri Ice Cream: Adelaide-born premium Japanese-inspired ice cream brand that has collaborated directly with Black Star Pastry (2023 Melbourne two-week collab). Comparable as an Asian-flavour-inspired premium dessert brand with a similar collaboration and limited-edition playbook.
• Tarts Anon: Melbourne-based boutique patisserie specialising in tarts, celebration cakes and premium pastries with multiple locations. Comparable as a premium Australian dessert-first patisserie with custom celebration cake offerings.

Broad incumbents

• St. ALi (St Ali): Melbourne specialty coffee roaster/café group whose coffee Black Star Pastry uses in its signature drinks, and with whom Black Star has run collaborations (Latte Danish). Comparable as an adjacent premium F&B collaborator and supplier partner within the Australian café ecosystem.

Emerging players

• KOKO Black: Australian premium chocolate and patisserie brand with which Black Star Pastry has executed multiple co-branded launches (Theobroma 7-layer cake, Meteor Cake, hot cross buns). Comparable as a frequent collaboration partner and adjacent premium chocolate/dessert producer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/blackstarpastry
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackstarpastry
• Xx.com/blackstarpastry
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackstarpastry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Black Star Pastry