bake - March 2019 - 27

"There is a human touch at every point in the production line."
Andrew Stoloff, co-owner of Rubicon Bakers

"We have automated the easy stuff and kept the

says. Since then, Rubicon Bakers converted to exclu-

harder decoration work for the hand work," he says.

sively making sweet bakery products like cupcakes.

"We were able to speed production up by automating

Automation has helped improved efficiency.

this portion (filling and topping) and now we have four
people at the end of the line decorating by hand."

"When we started, every cupcake was scooped and
decorated by hand," he says. "We have streamlined

Rubicon Bakers recently launched a new addition to

and automated to a point that we are still a bakery and

the flavor line with Vegan Neapolitan Cupcakes. With

not a factory. We have nine people on the cupcake line

a suggested retail price of $5.99, the new 4-pack

who are filling and icing, decorating and putting them

Vegan Neapolitan Cupcakes is made with chocolate

in the box. There is a human touch at every point in the

cake filled with whipped vanilla creme, topped with

production line. As we got better at making cupcakes,

sweet strawberry icing and mini chocolate chips. These

people noticed, and our business grew."

cupcakes are scratch-made from plant-based ingredients, including vegan sugar, chocolate chips, vanilla

Rubicon Bakers boasts an experienced staff.

and non-GMO expeller-pressed canola oil. The Kosher-

Catherine Trujillo brings tremendous bakery expe-

certified Vegan Neapolitan Cupcakes are available at

rience to Rubicon Bakers as vice president of

Sprouts Farmers Market, select Whole Foods Market

marketing and sales. Previously, she was global

locations and independent retailers nationwide.

bakery project coordinator for Whole Foods Market,
directing bakery business development and strategy.

"We don't control the growth. We are in business to
say yes to our customers," Stoloff says. "Cupcakes are

Rubicon Bakers is a Certified B Corporation, which

our most widely distributed product. We are in all but

means the company has made an environmental and

two regions of Whole Foods. Originally, the idea for

social commitment to use the business as a force for

cupcakes in a four-pack came from Whole Foods. Now

good. The bakery was originally founded as a job

we have introduced vegan cupcakes and cakes, which

training program for Rubicon Programs, a Richmond-

have been very well received in the mainstream market."

based nonprofit organization committed to transforming East Bay communities by equipping people to

Maintaining human touch points

break the cycle of poverty. Today, running the bakery as

What is interesting is the role that Whole Foods has

a for-profit business enables the owners to give back

played since the beginning. At one time, Rubicon

more to the populations they serve. By focusing on

Bakers made hand-made marshmallows. "That was

efficiency, employee retention and product quality, the

the product that got us into Whole Foods," Stoloff

bakery has expanded dramatically in the past decade.
bakemag.com | MAR 2019 > 27

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bake - March 2019

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