Creating sweet treats is a piece of cake for baker

The $3,500 prize was the icing on the cake for the 27-year-old after judges picked her business pitch over five other contestants.

Entrants had to present their entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of experts in just five minutes.

Miss Cannonier really impressed with her plans to expand her cake-making business and open her own bakery.

She said: “To have someone else believe in you and your dreams is very reassuring. I felt very emotional to win this.”

Miss Cannonier was among 17 people to enter the competition, held to mark last week’s Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Experts

The challenge — which was sponsored by HSBC Bank of Bermuda — was organized by the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation and the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative.

The six finalists had just five minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of business experts and a public audience at HSBC’s Harbourview building.

Miss Cannonier admitted it was “nerve-wracking” but said she was thrilled to win.

She will use the prize dough to help her secure a loan to set up a bakery. Miss Cannonier started her business, the Sweet SAAK Bake Shop, at her home in St. David’s three years ago.

She named the business after her and her siblings’ initials — SAAK stands for sister Shree, brothers Ankoma and Angelo, and K for Kamilah.

Miss Cannonier graduated in culinary arts from Bermuda College and worked as a chef on the island, completing internships at Grotto Bay and the Fairmont Southampton.

At first she baked cakes and cookies, selling them every Saturday at the Farmers’ Market, but then began creating speciality cakes. She went on to attend a pastry course at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York and now makes cakes of every description.

Imagination

They range from traditional tiered creations to handbags, dresses and even training shoes.

But even conventional cakes are transformed by her colourful imagination.

Birthdays, weddings, religious events and other celebrations can be made that bit sweeter with a personalised cake.

Her sports cakes feature football shirts, golfers and cricketers. She even bakes rock star cakes complete with skull and crossbones.

Character cakes are available for children’s birthdays and businesses can request a special corporate theme.

Miss Cannonier said: “If someone has a theme I will create custom-designed, decorative cakes.”

At present, she says she is limited to producing two or three a week. She said: “They are very detailed so I try not to take on too many orders, as I like to give them special attention.

“But hopefully in the future I will be able to take on more orders.

“I would like to open a shop where people would be able to place orders and pick up and where I can have a more commercial-sized kitchen.

“This would allow me to take on more orders and do more production.

“I would also do more baked goods, like cookies, cup cakes and traditional Bermudian confections such as gingerbread.”

Demand is “pretty steady” but interest in custom-made cakes is increasing.

Miss Cannonier’s siblings help her when she needs an extra hand, such as making deliveries.

She added: “They also offer moral support.”

Miss Cannonier sells baked goods at the St. George’s Market every Sunday from 2-6 pm. You can see her cakes at Cakes by Lah on Facebook.  

For more details, call 335-2253 or e-mail [email protected].