Our Cheesecake Company - Episode 126 - Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator - Mark Daniels

Posted by: Hannah Crickman on Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A baker, a business degree, an entrepreneurial spirit and a local niche made the perfect recipe for starting a cheesecake business in Wichita.

The Wichita Cheesecake Company is owned by Mark and Grace Daniels and operated with the help of their two daughters - Rya and Mi-Kell - who help with baking, filling orders and marketing.

The company offers fresh-made cheesecakes in more than 30 flavors - including banana pudding, caramel praline pecan, caramel apple\ and New York style. They also offer seasonal flavors and custom orders. Cheesecakes can be purchased in all difference sizes, including by the slice.

They started the business out of their home in 2017 and quickly outgrew the kitchen. They upgraded to a commercial kitchen at their church, and are now celebrating the company's third anniversary at its current location at the Union Station in downtown Wichita.

Wichita Cheesecake Company
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On this episode we discuss:

● Grace and I Discovered Our Cheesecake Business at a Bridal Show
● Journey to expansion, the slow approach to growth
● On Baking Cheesecakes
● Managing a Restaurant Business (you can’t do both)
● Strategies for Building a Reoccurring Book of Business
● Strategies for Adapting to the Pandemic: Wichita Cheesecake and Metro Grill
● Expansion Plans

Listen on popular podcast directories and aggregators, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, and ICT Podcast Network or using the player above. Send feedback on this show and/or suggestions for future guests or topics by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or emailing communications@wichitachamber.org.

Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator is a weekly podcast devoted to supporting and learning from area business owners. Released every Wednesday, it's produced by Forge Podcast Co, managed by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Evergy.

Want to be a guest on the podcast?

If you are interested in being a featured guest on the Wichita Business Accelerator, or know of a company that you'd like us to interview, submit the business's information for consideration using this online form.

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