We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cara Pitts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cara, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Thank you for having me! The idea for Southern Roots Vegan Bakery was sparked by a transformative documentary called “What The Health.” After viewing it, my husband Marcus adopted a plant-based lifestyle. As a lifelong baker, I began converting my own recipes into vegan versions and shared them with friends and family. Their encouragement led us to participate in a 10-week culinary accelerator program called Break, Fast and Launch, organized by Launch SA, which helped us get our business off the ground.
Our vegan bakery gained traction at farmers’ markets, developing a loyal customer base who sought out our products specifically, after that we were off to the races!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My background is in Customer Service Management, and I spent about six years working in corporate healthcare where I met Marcus. Marcus is a Texas Tech alumni with a degree in architecture. He is an excellent cook, and I have been passionate about baking since I was a child. Together, we have been self-taught and taken a few culinary classes throughout the years to perfect our skills.
Our diverse backgrounds and shared passion for plant-based cuisine have allowed us to create a unique and successful vegan bakery that brings joy and satisfaction to our customers.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Running Southern Roots Vegan Bakery comes with its share of challenges, such as standing out in a crowded bakery market and staying competitive with larger brands that have more resources. Additionally, the cost of ingredients can fluctuate based on seasonal availability, which can impact our bakery’s bottom line.
Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities for us to succeed. The demand for vegan options is growing, which presents an opportunity to reach more customers who are looking for plant-based alternatives. Social media is also a powerful tool for building relationships with customers and increasing brand awareness.
Prior to the pandemic, we shifted our business to an online model that allowed us to expand our reach and connect with more customers, sharing our delicious sweets with a wider audience. However, when our company went viral in 2020, we had to pivot quickly and establish new systems and structures to accommodate the sudden influx of orders. This was a challenging yet valuable experience that taught us a great deal about managing growth and building a strong organizational culture. Moving forward, we plan to leverage these lessons to further improve our business for years to come.
Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?
Moving on to business acquisitions, in late 2022, my husband and I had the opportunity to acquire Cielo Scoops, a premium vegan ice cream company. The acquisition process was smooth, with the previous owners being great and wanting to make sure the company went to people they knew who could take this premium product to the next level. We were attracted to this acquisition because we wanted to expand our portfolio of gourmet vegan products, and Cielo Scoops’ luxurious frozen dessert was the perfect addition. We believe it will alter people’s perception of vegan treats.
As we progress, we are excited to expand both brands into wholesale, targeting hotels, nursing homes, and specialty boutiques. Cielo Scoops is now sold at The Grand Hyatt at the Riverwalk in San Antonio, and we sell it nationwide. Our objective is to introduce our scrumptious vegan ice cream and Southern Roots gourmet bakery items to a broader audience. With a dedicated team and a passion for creating delicious plant-based treats, we are confident that the future is bright for Cielo Scoops and our growing family of brands.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SouthernRootsVegan.com and www.CieloScoops.com
- Instagram: @southernrootsbiz @cieloscoops
- Facebook: @southernrootsbiz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-roots-vegan-bakery/
- Twitter: @southernroots_V
Image Credits
Product Photos – VegNews Pictures of Marcus & Cara – Jason Gaines Photography and Lion Tiers Photography