This month, Treat Kitchen, full of surprises as ever, took on a brand-new venture with Sugarberry Cake Studio. With that, we now also have the incredibly talented and skilled Fran Jesson a part of our team as the new Bakery Project Manager!
We’ve had the absolute honour of working with Fran in the past and have always been completely amazed at just HOW talented she is. From baking Nottingham based charity, Base 51’s biscuits for the Ay Up Market to baking the ultimate birthday cake for the Treat Kitchen store’s 1st birthday last summer – Fran’s talent as a baker is immeasurable and we are so happy to have her on board.
So, you’re probably wondering what she’ll be getting up to. Fran will be working on product development alongside the planning team with some very exciting projects. But, as well as that (yes, there’s more!), Fran will also be creating Treat Kitchen’s first ever baking range for the store in Victoria Centre, Nottingham!
As if the delicious, sweet treats and gifting options in the shop weren’t already enough, as of Saturday 29th October, you’ll be able to shop Fran’s yummy bakes in store! With her experience as a Marketing Assistant, Fran will also be helping at photoshoots and creating content and videos for social media, so keep an eye out, there’s lots in the pipeline!
Anyway, that’s enough from us, we’ll pass you over to Fran!
“Hi everyone! 👋
My interest in baking started like many peoples, helping in the kitchen with my mum and grandmas. Licking the bowls, adding jams to tart cases, cutting out gingerbread, decorating fairy cakes. The sense of nostalgia, reliving memories and of course scoffing yummy treats is very much engrained in my love of baking.
Like a lot of bakers, my goal was to have my own shop. In 2019, this dream became reality with my own unit in Sneinton Market. Despite this exciting new step in my business, my mental health took a nosedive. The terrible journey I had with this experience really made me reassess my business and what I wanted to do.
My baking gave me purpose during those dark times, I felt like I was a part of something special whether it was a one- off treat, a gift for a friend or a special celebration. Baking was the one thing that kept me focused on the positives. Even during the lockdowns, I felt motivated knowing I was delivering treats to people who needed a bit of happiness during those troubling times.
This is when I rebranded to Sugarberry Cake Studio. I wanted to support other people who may be struggling with their mental health through baking and cake decorating workshops. My baking has always been about good quality produce, and that has never changed.
In 2021, I expanded the business into a larger unit so I could have more space to bake and host therapeutic baking workshops. This was another exciting step in my business journey! As I worked through 2022, it was noticeably getting harder and harder to survive the impact the cost-of-living crisis was having on my sales, my ingredients and bills. I was running on empty mentally and made the tough decision that I needed to close Sugarberry Cake Studio.
I don’t want this introduction to sound like I’m a Debbie Downer! Closing the business was the best decision I was able to make as it has opened this wonderful opportunity to work with Treat Kitchen as their new Bakery Project Manager”
When I am not baking, I can be found with a basset hound called Louis snuggling me on the sofa whilst I watch true crime documentaries (yes…I am that person!). At the weekend, I love spending time with my partner, supporting small independent businesses whether it’s a takeaway coffee on a dog walk, a pint at our local tap room brewery, going to a gig or buying something nice for our house at a crafts market. Baking is still my biggest hobby and I love that this is now my full-time job!”
So, save the date! Fran’s cakes will be launching at the Treat Kitchen store in Victoria Centre on Saturday October 29th and we cannot wait!
But don’t just take our word for it, be sure to pop down yourself and get your sweet treats in!
