Mary AliceTM Launches New Cake Mix Line and Says it is Time for the Cake Mix Industry to Diversify

Locally owned and newly created company Mary Alice, recently announced the launch of its brand new line of cake mixes featuring its flagship Perfect White flavor, as well as its crowdfunding campaign effective on June 7, 2020. Marla Pruitte, a former professional baker, and past owner of Sweet by Design Cupcakery in Tennessee understands consumers’ desire for convenience without sacrificing taste, and decided it was time to shake up the cake mix industry. Mary Alice, a 100% woman owned business, hinges on tradition and legacy; but most important, has a mission is to bridge the gap in disparities within the cake mix industry by creating opportunities for under-represented brands.

Pruitte, who has been preparing and planning for months, explained how she came up with the inspiration behind Mary Alice. “You know, I grew up in a family of exceptional cooks and bakers, and family time has always been important to us. We never had a family meal without desserts,” she said in a press release. “My great, great aunt Mary Alice Sain was the matriarch of our family and was well known for her baking. I even used some of her recipes in my bakery. She was a kind, gentle soul and opened her home and kitchen to so many. This is a tribute of love to her.”

The cake mix market is one that has few barriers to entry and is easy for newcomers to position themselves to challenge household brands. As well, the market is experiencing trending growth with an estimated valuation of $1,310.7 Mn by 2022, reaching 1.54 billion by 2026. “Now is the perfect time to open Mary Alice because this market is actually experiencing gains, and I have a good grasp on what consumers want. When asked what her goal is, Pruitte responds, “As a woman of color, I see the lack of diversity in the market, we all see it. There are not many cake mix brands that look like me, nor opportunities for consumers to experience a brand like mine, and I plan to change that.”

As for timing, people are now spending more time together, celebrating more specials occasions at home, and even spending more time together in the kitchen. “If anything, the pandemic has created opportunities for more family time and shown us just how important it is to deliberately create memories together,” Pruitte said, “and you know what, baking helps us create memories together.”

Business Mogul: Can you explain your inspiration behind Mary Alice?

Marla: I grew up in a family of exceptional cooks and bakers, and family time has always been important to us. We never had a family meal without desserts. My great, great aunt Mary Alice Sain was the matriarch of our family and was well known for her baking. Everyone knew her baking, from family gatherings to being over the kitchen committee at my childhood church. I remember my mother always calling Aunt Mary Alice to get recipes and my mother wrote those recipes down. I even used some of her recipes in my bakery. Aunt Mary Alice was a very kind, gentle soul and opened her home and kitchen to so many. This is a tribute of love to her.

Business Mogul: You are launching this new venture during a global pandemic. What changes, if any, did you have to make in order for the launch to be successful?

Marla: Timing is everything. I have been planning my launch for a few months and working with my manufacturer making sure our formula was perfect, and our packaging and design were complete before determining my launch date. Then came the global pandemic, and everything around us slowed down or came to a complete halt. But would you know it, the pandemic actually proved to be a perfect time because it allowed for a more laser focus, and frankly, I was more determined, even with so much uncertainty, to make my launch happen. People have been more engaged, overall just want something positive to focus on, anything that makes them feel good. I will say this, as entrepreneurs or creatives, it is important to realize that you do not slow down when things become adverse, quite the contrary. I believe now is the time more than ever to push forward, because out of adversity creation is birthed.

Business Mogul: What makes your cake mix line different?

Marla: The Mary Alice™ cake mix brand is 100% woman-and black-owned. Our mission is to bridge the gap in disparities within the cake mix industry by creating opportunities for under-represented brands. Simply put, there is not a brand on the market now that looks like me, and it is time to change that!  As a former professional baker, I know what consumers want, especially home-bakers.  With this flagship flavor we are launching, I developed a white cake mix that takes the extra effort out of consumers’ hands, eliminating their need to “doctor” the mix to give it that bakery flavor.  And the bonus is that this mix can be used as a base for different flavored cakes. 

Mary Alice will launch its official Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign on June 7, 2020 in efforts to bring their “homemade convenience” to superstore and big box retailers, and online as well. The crowdfunding campaign will create the financial bandwidth necessary to meet the manufacturing and retail demands in order to create the opportunities to reshape the market.

Individuals interested in learning more and contributing to the crowdfunding campaign may visit the Mary Alice Debut Kickstarter Campaign at: 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/maryalicecakes/mary-alicetm-debut