An exceptional product is only the beginning. What does it take to manufacture it, get it to customers, and build a business that makes money?

Recorded live at PastryCon, this episode of The Perfect Rise features Chef En-Ming Hsu, world champion pastry chef and founder of Sip! Extraordinary Drinking Chocolate. She joins host Chef Kimberly Houston for a candid conversation about moving from acclaimed pastry kitchens and a successful consulting career into the realities of owning a packaged food business.

En-Ming shares how a pandemic pivot became a business now driven largely by wholesale, and why that growth brings decisions about manufacturing minimums, inventory, packaging, freight, and where to focus her time. She also discusses protecting her product standards, developing multiple uses for a seasonal offering, and balancing customer requests with what the business can realistically support.

For bakery owners considering wholesale, packaged products, or another revenue stream, this conversation offers an honest look at the work behind expansion and the importance of asking for help along the way.

In this episode:
• Moving from e-commerce into wholesale and food service
• Working with co-manufacturers and managing production minimums
• Balancing ingredient standards, costs, and customer expectations
• Using pre-orders to support inventory planning
• Accounting for freight and distribution when expanding
• Finding business support through mentors and small business resources
• Deciding what to stop doing so a growing business gets the attention it needs

Explore Sip! Extraordinary Drinking Chocolate:
https://sipextraordinary.com

Learn more about Retail Bakers of America:
https://retailbakersofamerica.org

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

SCORE business mentoring SCORE

U.S. Small Business Administration resources and local assistance sba.gov

SAM.gov entity registration

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.