A group of Auckland students have successfully sold vegan cupcake mixture to New Zealand supermarket chains.
The baking mixture – aimed at children – was created by Let Them Eat Cake [LTEC].
The new vegan product has hit shelves in Farro Fresh and New World supermarkets across Auckland.
Gap in the market
LTEC was founded by five year 13 students, as part of the Young Enterprises Scheme in which students start their own businesses.
The students said they spotted a gap in the market for vegan-friendly pre-mix baking options.
The bakery startup aims to give kids with dairy or egg allergies the opportunity to bake with their parents, said the bakery’s chief executive Madison McKillen.
“Baking with our parents was such a significant and fond memory of our childhood, and we did not want other kids to miss out on this,” she said.
The low-sugar baking mixture is available in vanilla flavor – and only requires the customer to add water.
Demand
Although the students did not plan to continue LTEC after they graduate, the demand was so high that the business will continue.
“We have gotten to the stage where we are in back orders – we have sold out of our original stock,” McKillen said.
Supermarket New World Stonefields General Manager James Fabian said the students had done their research.
“They developed a product that was unique, appealing, and that customers are buying.”
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