Dancing Deer Baking Co. facts for kids
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| Privately held company | |
| Industry | Bakery |
| Founded | 1994 in West Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Founder | Suzanne Lombardi, Ayis Antoniou, and Trish Karter |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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United States and Canada |
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Key people
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Frank Carpenito, CEO |
| Products | Cakes, Cookies, Brownies, Baking Mixes and Gift Baskets |
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Number of employees
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75-225 (seasonal) |
Dancing Deer Baking Co. is a Boston-based bakery. They sell delicious kosher-certified cookies, brownies, cakes, and baking mixes. Their products are sold in many places. You can find them in special food stores, grocery chains like Whole Foods Market, and even in some parts of Canada.
Dancing Deer is known for making products that are all-natural. This means they don't use any artificial ingredients or preservatives.
Contents
The Story of Dancing Deer
Dancing Deer Baking Co. started in 1994. Three friends created the company:
- Suzanne Lombardi: She was a baker and made many of the first recipes.
- Ayis Antoniou: He helped with the business plans.
- Trish Karter: She was an artist and also helped run the business.
How It All Began
The company began in a small place that used to be a pizza shop. It was in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. They started with just a few ovens. At first, they mostly sold cakes to cafes and restaurants.
In 1996, Dancing Deer began selling packaged goods. These were items like cookies and brownies that people could buy in stores. By 2007, the company was making over $10 million in sales each year.
Gifts for Businesses
Around 2008, Dancing Deer decided to focus more on making gifts for businesses. They could print company logos on gift tins, boxes, and even on cookies! This part of their business grew quickly. It went from making up about 15% of their sales to over 18% by the end of 2008.
In September 2010, Trish Karter, one of the founders, left her role as CEO. Later, Frank Carpenito became the CEO in 2010. He stayed in that position until July 2016.
In 2024, Dancing Deer faced some financial challenges. They filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is a legal process to help companies reorganize their money problems.
What's in a Name?
The name "Dancing Deer" came from Suzanne Lombardi's grandmother. Her grandmother, Erma Shaw, owned a gift and antique shop called Dancing Deer. This shop was in Bar Harbor, Maine. Dancing Deer Baking Co. also used some of Erma Shaw's old recipes, like the famous Deep Dark Gingerbread Cake.
Awards and Recognition
Dancing Deer Baking Co. has won special awards for their tasty treats.
The Sofi Award
In 1998, the NASFT gave Dancing Deer a big award. It was the gold Sofi Award for "Outstanding Cookie of the Year." They won this for their special Molasses Clove Cookie.
The Sofi Awards are like the "Oscars" for the food industry. They celebrate the best specialty foods and drinks each year.
