contents 08 10 16 26 50 60 FEATURES 16 26 32 50 LEVAIN TOPS THE CHARTS ENGAGING EXPERIENCE BAKERY CAFE CLOUT FRESH TAKE ON CUPCAKES New York City-based Levain Bakery is taking the cookie business to new heights as it prepares to open a sixth retail store and continues to expand its ecommerce sales. Bellegarde Bakery in New Orleans opens the doors to its first retail location after nearly seven years as a wholesaler. Their goal here is to provide a special experience. Inventive menus and smart marketing are driving growth in the bakery cafe sector, led by innovators including Panera Bread, Kneaders Bakery & Cafe and Great Harvest Bread. Georgetown Cupcake founders Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne share insights on how they've turned their bakery into a destination for cupcake lovers. DEPARTMENTS COVER September 2019 B A K E RY. C A K E . C H O CO L AT E . PAST RY 08 Management 56 Sweet Goods 10 Technical Corner 60 Breads 12 Practical Marketing 64 Pastries 14 Equipment Innovations 66 Foodservice 48 Chocolate & Decorating 74 Formula of the Month 50 Cakes 06 < SEP 2019 | bakemag.com Cookies are a favorite of just about everyone, and Levain Bakery knows this well. The iconic New York City bakery is raising the stakes in the cookie business and expanding (both in store and online) at a faster pace due to investment from growth equity firm Stripes Group. Photo by Melissa Kirschenheiter THE HOLIDAY ISSUE: levain tops the charts ENGAGING EXPERIENCE Bellegarde opens 1st retail store BAKERY CAFE CLOUT Inventive menus fuel growth LIMITED-EDITION DONUTS Putting a spark in LTO saleshttp://www.bakemag.com