We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Todd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Growing up I have always enjoyed the act of cooking especially baking with my mom and grandmother. When I became a mother myself, I incorporated the same bonding moments with my daughters whom I lovingly call my Kutie Pies.. So in 2015 when my HR position at a major manufacturing company was eliminated instead of immediately returning to the work field, I took the opportunity to spend more time with my children and start a baking business and share my love for food.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Opening a bakery in 2021 was not exactly in my plans. However, cooking is in my DNA. My grandmother’s home always smelled delicious whenever I visited. From the smell of warm pecan pies made with the basket of pecans we’d collected from her yard , to the sweet aroma of her Mississippi jelly cakes made with her own canned fruit perseveres jars. Learning the life skill of cooking and the importance of food and nutrition influenced my decision to become a chef at a young age.

At the age of 14 years I began working at a local small hamburger and ice cream shop in the Whtehaven area of Memphis, TN. I enjoyed the facial reactions of customers whenever I made dipped ice cream cones, milkshakes, and banana splits. Good food makes everyone happy! I got the feel of running a cash register, managing customers, and the delight of serving people.

Upon graduating high school I became a shift manager at Kentucky Fried Chicken and I continued my education by obtaining an associate degree in Business Administration from ITT Techinical Institute.

With q degree and the desire for a change of scenery, I entered into the U.S. Navy. My mother always encouraged me to do what I wanted in life, to live life, and explore as many places I could as an adult. The military provided discipline, the financial means to travel and meet new people, not to mention the $5k signing bonus to become a cook specialist..

Another motivating factor, was the personal remembrance of family, my mother passed from COVID-19; in January 2020 and 3 months later, my father passed from a cancer battle. Cooking and baking has contributed to my healing process. On October 16, 2021 we unknowingly made history as the first black-owned bakery in Southaven, MS. Southaven has been one of the fastest-growing citiesin the nation. Upon moving back to Whitehaven, I did mostly all my shopping in Southaven and recognized it was a growing , thriving community. Considering there was only one other bakery, I knew it was a sign for me to offer another option.

We’re NOT your local bakery… We’re a bakery cafe.

We bake cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, cobblers, and custom cakes for birthdays, weddings, etc.

We offer full-service catering, corporate lunches, and we have daily lunch entrees. All of these items and services are available on our website www.kutiepiescatering.com.

I am especially proud of the success of our Kutie’s Kids Culinary Camp. We host a kids culinary camp, ages 7 – 13 years old during our local school breaks – summer, fall, spring, and winter. We teach them the importance of teamwork, communication, mathematics, healthy eating, and nutrition.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Startup capital was not easy to obtain. I was denied by a couple of banks before I was approved by an unconventional lender. In addition , we received government grants to assist with supplies and inventory.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

We stay connected to our customers through our social media platforms, our eCommerce site, text and email marketing, and we gain a ton of new customers just by word of mouth! Our loyal customers refer their friends, family, and co-workers. We continue to provide delicious, fulfilling food and exceptional service.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kutiepiescatering.com
• Instagram: kutie_pies_bakery_cafe
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/KutiePiesBakeryCafe
• Linkedin: kutiepiesbakerycafe/linkedin