Wooden Table Baking Co. recently opened an expanded and renovated 5000 sq ft commercial kitchen, distribution center and office headquarters in Oakland, doubling the size of its business. The expansion will enable Wooden Table to satisfy the growing demand for its delicious alfajores.
The company’s sales have multiplied six-fold since it’s founding in 2011, with Western and Rocky Mountain distribution in high-end supermarkets such as Whole Foods; a strong local presence in specialty stores and cafes such as Berkeley Bowl, Oaklandish, and Cafe Gabriela; as well as direct online gift orders.
“This is an exciting and hectic time for us,” says founder and head baker Andreas Ozzuna. “We’re thrilled to be able to invest locally, expand our production capabilities, and have more room for creativity in the kitchen.”
Having begun their business by selling directly to one local coffee shop at a time, Andreas is committed to Bay Area relationship building. All of the company’s employees are Oakland residents. Dedicated to high-quality, organic/ non-GMO, and fair trade ingredients, Wooden Table makes use of local suppliers whenever possible: Guittard Chocolate (Burlingame), Challenge Butter (Dublin), Due Torri Coffee (Oakland), and Guisto Flour (South San Francisco). The company also puts its money where its hearts is, supporting local causes and events such as the Art for Aids benefit, Abrazo Queer Tango Milonga, and the Sundance Stompede.
COOKIEPRENUER
Argentineans show love with food. Nothing makes us happier than family and friends eating together. Creating community…Sharing Argentinean culture.
Wooden Table’s owner and head baker, Andreas Ozzuna, grew up outside of Buenos Aires and learned how to cook from their grandmother. “It is from her that I inherited my love of cooking. I remember being next to her at our wooden table making raviolis, gnochi, tarts every weekend! A whole spoonful of dulce de leche in my mouth as a reward when she wasn’t looking.”
When Ozzuna moved to Oakland 17 years ago, they missed Argentinian food, so they had to make the foods they craved – empanadas, alfajores, tangos y maté. Ozzuna says, “I started making alfajores because here in the Bay Area, I didn’t have access to Argentinian sweets. So to get them, I had to make them.”
Encouraged by cookie fans, Andreas started selling alfajores to local coffee shops. “I went to each coffee shop and left samples. I grew the business mostly by offering our alfajores to stores, giving samples, being persistent and respectful at the same time.”
Ozzuna’s persistence has paid off. Wooden Table currently produces over 12,000 cookies per week, selling in multiple supermarkets and coffee shops, including Whole Foods, Mollie Stone’s and Lunardi’s. Current projections indicate that the business will gross over $400,000 this year.
ALFAJORES
Alfajores are traditional pastries from Argentina, as well as other South American countries, made of two short bread cookies joined with dulce de leche (caramelized milk).
Wooden Table Baking Co.’s alfajores are particularly ‘de rechupete.’ San Jose Mercury News labeled Wooden Table’s alfajores “the next macaroon,” highlighting them as one of the top ten foods at the 2015 Fancy Food Show. Customers rave about the high-quality ingredients and the fresh-baked yumminess. One customer claims, “It is just downright rude to make a cookie this delicious.”
Gluten-free advocates are sometimes even more appreciative, “ You have made this person incredibly happy. Finally. Amazing tasting alfajores of my youth that I can now eat because they’re gluten free!” When the company needed a $30K chocolate enrober machine and cooling tunnel in 2012, it was no surprise that its rabid fans supported a successful Kickstarter campaign.
CONTACT
Wooden Table Baking Co. 910 81st Avenue #19 Oakland, CA 94621
Andreas Ozzuna Owner/ Head Baker 415.260.7511 andreas@woodentablebaking.com www.woodentablebaking.com
FLAVORS
Traditional Traditional Gluten-Free Chocolate Chocolate Mint Espresso Chocolate Chipotle & Chocolate Meringue Lemon Ginger Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Spice
Source: Wooden Table Baking Co.
