Little Cupcake Bakeshop

What Little Cupcake Bakeshop does

Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a family-owned retail bakery founded in 2005 in Brooklyn, New York by three brothers — Salvatore, Massimo, and Louie LoBuglio — and headquartered at 30 Prince Street in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. The company operates four brick-and-mortar locations (one in Manhattan, three in Brooklyn at Bay Ridge, Prospect Heights, and a Flushing Avenue site) and produces handcrafted traditional American desserts using small-batch, on-site daily baking with sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients from farms in the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Vermont, and New Jersey, and explicitly no shortening or preservatives. Its product portfolio spans more than 16 cupcake flavors, full-size layer cakes, half sheet cakes, bundt cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, ice cream, pies, bars, breakfast pastries, and refrigerated desserts, with gluten-free and vegan options offered across categories.

The core technology is artisanal food production rather than software; stores are designed with green architectural features and serve as both production and retail environments. The business model is direct-to-consumer: revenue is generated primarily through in-store retail bakery sales across the four NYC locations, supplemented by a catering service for personal events (weddings, birthdays, brunches, corporate luncheons) and large enterprise clients (including Gansevoort Hotel, Saks Fifth Avenue, NYU, Mac Cosmetics, Facebook, MTV, the Manhattan Borough President's Office, and the New York City Council), an e-commerce shop for branded merchandise and nationwide shipping of the signature Brooklyn Blackout Cake, baking classes led by co-founder Salvatore LoBuglio (e.g., in partnership with the James Beard Foundation), and a shop-in-shop charitable partnership with FEED Projects.

The company is privately held with no external institutional investors, no parent company, and a headcount of 11-50. It markets through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, a blog, an email newsletter, and earned media, and has accumulated brand credibility through features in the New York Times, Food & Wine, Thrillist, Brooklyn Magazine, HBO's Girls, a Liam Neeson Super Bowl commercial, and a Shepard Fairey mural at the Prince Street location. No revenue figure, funding history, or financial performance metrics are disclosed.

Name

Little Cupcake Bakeshop

Legal name

Little Cupcake Bakeshop

Website

https://littlecupcakebakeshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a family-owned New York City bakery founded in 2005 by three LoBuglio brothers, operating four retail storefronts in Manhattan and Brooklyn that serve handcrafted traditional American desserts — most notably the award-winning Brooklyn Blackout Cake — alongside catering, e-commerce, and baking classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Bakery

NAICS

Retail Bakeries (311811), Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Baked Goods Retailers (445291)

SIC

Bakery Products (2050), Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024)

akta.pro primary industry

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Artisanal & Craft Bakeries (CRAHAGAA), Dessert-First Bakeries (Cupcakes, Cookies, Brownies) (THAFAFAH), Ice Cream Cakes & Frozen Dessert Bakery Manufacturing (AFAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Artisan cupcakes
• Specialty cakes
• Retail bakery
• Event catering
• Baked goods

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Bakery Sales: In-store sales of cupcakes, layer cakes, cheesecakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, breakfast items, and other baked goods across 4 New York City locations.
2. Catering Services: Personal event catering (weddings, birthdays, corporate events) and special event catering for clients including hotels, corporations, and government offices.
3. E-commerce/Merchandise: Online shop selling branded merchandise including shirts, sweaters, hats, and FEED Project products. Brooklyn Blackout Cake shipping announced in 2017.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a multi-location artisan bakery that handcrafts and sells traditional American desserts — most notably cupcakes (16+ flavors including the signature Brooklyn Blackout Cake), full-size layer cakes, half sheet cakes, cheesecakes, pies, cookies, bars, bundt cakes, ice cream, breakfast pastries, and refrigerated puddings — at four retail locations in New York City. The company also offers personal and corporate event catering, an online shop for merchandise and nationwide shipping, and baking classes led by the head pastry chef. Production is small-batch and on-site daily, with no shortening or preservatives, and ingredients are sustainably and locally sourced.

Product overview

Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a multi-location bakery offering a unified portfolio of freshly baked goods centered on cupcakes and specialty cakes, supplemented by cookies, pies, cheesecakes, ice cream, and breakfast pastries. The core offering is handcrafted cupcakes available in over 16 flavors, complemented by full-size layer cakes and half sheet cakes for events. The business operates as both a retail bakery with four New York locations and an e-commerce platform offering nationwide shipping of signature items. Additional revenue streams include catering services for personal and corporate events, a charitable shop-in-shop partnership with FEED Projects, and periodic baking classes led by the founding chefs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cupcakes Handcrafted cupcakes in 16+ flavors including Golden Vanilla, Golden Chocolate, Southern Red Velvet, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Coconut Cloud, Strawberry, Blue Velvet, Brooklyn Blackout, Pistachio Grape Jam, Cookies & Cream, Hummingbird, Black & White, Dreaming Princess, Mott Street, German Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice (fall only), and Gluten Free & Vegan Chocolate. Sold at all four NYC retail locations and via the online shop.
• Layer Cakes Full-sized layer cakes available in Golden Vanilla, Golden Chocolate, Brooklyn Blackout, Southern Red Velvet, Carrot, Blue Velvet, Coconut Cloud, Mott Street, German Chocolate, Golden Ganache, Good Humor Strawberry, S'mores, Dreaming Princess, Black & White, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Hummingbird, and Pumpkin Spice (fall only). Available for retail purchase and event/catering orders.
• Half Sheet Cakes Large-format half sheet cakes for events and gatherings, available in Brooklyn Blackout, Good Humor Strawberry, Southern Red Velvet, Golden Vanilla, and Golden Chocolate flavors.
• Cheesecakes Creamy cheesecakes in Original, Blueberry, Raspberry White Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Tiramisu, Caramel Pecan, and Pumpkin Spice (fall only) varieties.
• Pies Freshly baked pies including Apple Crumb, Peanut Butter, Pecan, Pumpkin Spice (fall only), and Key Lime (summer only).
• Cookies Freshly baked cookies including Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Sugar, Double Chocolate Chunk, plus vegan varieties (Chocolate Chunk, Banana Chocolate Coconut, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Banana Coconut).
• Bars Assorted bars including Brownie, Raspberry Fruit Bar, Cereal Treat, Coconut Pecan Dream Bar, Pecan Bar, Walnut Brownie, S'mores Bar (winter only), and Meyer Lemon (September-April).
• Bundt Cakes Bundt-style cakes including Lemon Almond Bundt, Marbled Pound, and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cake with Nutella.
• Ice Cream Hand-packed ice cream pints in Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Southern Red Velvet Cake, Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake, Peanut Butter & Jelly Cake, Carrot Cake, illy Espresso & Brownie, Madagascar Vanilla Bean, Strawberry Mascarpone, Key Lime Pie, and Banana Pudding flavors. Ice cream cakes retail at $49 for a seven-inch cake.
• Breakfast Items Morning pastries including Almond Croissant, Ham & Cheese Croissant, Plain Croissant, Blueberry Muffin, Bran Muffin, Cinnamon Pecan Muffin, Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffin, and Vegan & Gluten Free Blueberry Banana Muffin.
• From the Icebox (Refrigerated Desserts) Refrigerated desserts including Old Fashioned Banana Pudding, Rice Pudding, Old Fashioned Icebox Pudding, and Pistachio Icebox Pudding.
• Brooklyn Blackout Cake (Signature)
• Catering Services Personal event catering (weddings, birthdays, black-tie events, brunches, dinners, business or school luncheons) and special-event catering for large-scale clients including Gansevoort Hotel, Saks Fifth Avenue, NYU, Mac Cosmetics, Manhattan Borough President's Office, New York City Council, Facebook, MTV, and Madison Square Garden / New York Rangers. Quote-based pricing.
• Baking Classes Educational baking classes led by Chef Co-Founder Salvatore LoBuglio, including sessions presented by the James Beard Foundation Greens at the 30 Prince Street Nolita location. JBF Green members $40, General Public $50.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Rebecca de RavenelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2017Little Cupcake Bakeshop hosted celebrated designer Rebecca de Ravenel's New York Fashion Week presentation, showcasing her must-have earrings and first handbags at the Nolita location.
• James Beard Foundation GreensflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The James Beard Foundation Greens presented a 'Baking With Our Chef' cooking class at Little Cupcake Bakeshop's 30 Prince Street location. Chef Co-Founder Salvatore LoBuglio taught attendees how to bake strawberry and chocolate layer cake while sharing expert baking and decorating tips. Event featured wine and beer. JBF Green members $40, General Public $50.
• James Beard FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2016Little Cupcake Bakeshop collaborated with James Beard Foundation on recipes, including featured Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes recipe published on James Beard Foundation website. The partnership positions the brand with high culinary credibility.
• FEED ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2016International Women's Day partnership at Little Cupcake Bakeshop in Nolita celebrating with FEED Projects, featuring a mural and photo opportunity to raise awareness for the cause.
• FEED ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2011In 2011, Little Cupcake Bakeshop partnered with FEED Projects (founded by Lauren Bush, model and WFP Honorary Spokesperson) to fight hunger. They launched a shop-in-shop at their locations selling FEED bags and cupcakes, with a goal to raise enough money to provide 20,000 meals for hungry children. The partnership combined retail with humanitarian impact.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carlo's Bake Shop: New Jersey/Hoboken-based celebrity cake shop (Cake Boss) with multiple U.S. locations and strong celebration/occasion cake positioning. Comparable on custom-cake heritage, multi-location retail, and TV-driven brand.
• Georgetown Cupcake: Washington D.C.-founded gourmet cupcake chain with multiple East Coast locations and national TV exposure (DC Cupcakes). Comparable premium cupcake operator with TV-fueled brand presence and East Coast shipping.
• Levain Bakery: NYC bakery famous for gourmet cookies and baked goods with multiple Manhattan/Brooklyn locations. Direct competitor in the premium NYC bakery category with strong national shipping footprint.
• Magnolia Bakery: Iconic NYC cupcake and dessert bakery founded 1996 with multiple Manhattan/Brooklyn locations and worldwide brand recognition. Direct competitor to LCB in the NYC specialty cupcake/cake category with similar celebrity-driven heritage.
• Milk Bar: Christina Tosi-founded NYC bakery chain with multiple locations nationwide offering layer cakes, cookies, and novelties. Direct competitor in the premium dessert/cake space with stronger multi-city retail presence and national shipping.
• Lady M Confections: Premium layer-cake specialist with NYC flagship and multiple U.S. locations plus global expansion. Directly comparable to LCB on signature celebration cakes (e.g., Brooklyn Blackout vs. Lady M Mille Crêpes) and gifting/D2C.
• Dominique Ansel Bakery: James Beard Award-winning NYC pastry chef bakery in SoHo. Comparable as a chef-led, NYC-based premium dessert brand with strong press and catering credentials.
• Sprinkles Cupcakes: Pioneering gourmet cupcake chain founded in Beverly Hills, with multiple U.S. locations including NYC. Direct competitor in the premium cupcake category with broader geographic scale than LCB.
• Baked by Melissa: NYC-based bite-size cupcake retailer with multiple Manhattan/Brooklyn storefronts and nationwide e-commerce shipping. Operates in the same bite-sized/celebration cupcake category with overlapping retail and shipping model.

Regional players

• Sylvia's Bakery: Harlem-rooted cake and dessert shop with NYC footprint centered on celebration cakes and Caribbean-American flavors. Comparable NYC bakery with localized brand but smaller chain scale than LCB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LittleCupcakeny
• Facebookfacebook.com/littlecupcakebakeshop
• Instagraminstagram.com/littlecupcakebakeshop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/little-cupcake-bakeshop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Little Cupcake Bakeshop