MIAMI, Fla. – Miami-based The Piping Gourmets, makers of all natural cupcake batters, frostings and Whoopie Pies, is the recipient of a $12,000, low-interest loan from Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program.
Whole Foods Market will make an official check presentation to The Piping Gourmets on Friday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. The presentation will take place at Whole Foods Market North Miami, located at 12150 Biscayne Boulevard.
The Piping Gourmets was founded in 2010 by culinary professionals Carolyn Broome Shulevitz and Leslie Kaplan. After discovering their cake batter could be frozen and still maintain its taste, texture and rise, the two began marketing their frozen cupcake batters and buttercreams, sold under the name Ready. Set. Cupcake! The product emphasizes the ease of baking and can be customized by adding flavoring and ingredients into the baker’s bag.
Earlier this year, The Piping Gourmets utilized their Ready. Set. Cupcake! GFCO certified gluten-free and dairy-free cake batter and added their own vegan frosting to create non-GMO Whoopie Pies, a new line of all natural desserts. From the beginning, The Piping Gourmets have emphasized the need to bake without preservatives, trans-fat and hydrogenated oils. Both products are sold in the Florida and Mid-Atlantic regions.
“We are very grateful and proud to be a recipient of Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program,” said Shulevitz. “As Florida manufacturers, the loan is making it possible for us to continue manufacturing in our home state and grow our business at the same time.”
The loan is for five years at an interest rate of 6.1 percent. Funds from the loan are being used to purchase new commercial baking equipment to expand their production capacity.
Since the program began in 2007, Whole Foods Market has funded more than 177 Local Producer Loans to 147 companies, totaling nearly $10 million.
To qualify for a loan through Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program, producers must meet Whole Foods Market’s strict Quality Standards, use the funds for expansion and have a viable business plan. Loan amounts begin at $1,000 and have fixed, low interest rates.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM) is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 74,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 16 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2012, the company had sales of more than $11 billion and has more than 350 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Source: Whole Foods Market