Le Mini Macaron, a family bakery business that sells delicate meringue-based confections in Fenwick, food markets, and festivals across the region, has been put up for sale. The mother and daughter team of Gillian Kenyon and Joanne have been selling their macarons in their thousands since their first sales at Morpeth Farmer's Market 12 years ago.
The business began almost by accident after Joanne was given a macaron making kit as a birthday gift by her sister. They spent months perfecting their macaron-piping skills and numerous flavor combinations before launching officially.
Business details and clientele
Today, the business operates from a sizable commercial kitchen in Newcastle, producing macarons in flavors including biscoff, S'mores, rose, toasted coconut, salted caramel, lemon, honeycomb, passion fruit and mango, and cherry bakewell. Clients include local hotels, cake makers, company promotional events, and Fenwick, which makes a large weekly order. They also create items for weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations, including macaron walls, cakes, towers, and large macarons. The Le Mini Macaron stall is a regular at food markets around the area.
Reason for sale
However, the business has been put up for sale amid new family commitments. Having recently had a baby, Joanne no longer has the time to commit to the firm's regular events, prompting the duo to enlist property agents at North East Commercial to find a new buyer.
The company, based at the i8 Enterprise Centre in Newcastle's west end and run by the founders and three other staff members, brings in turnover of £100,000 and is on the market with an asking price of £30,000. The deal includes a fully fitted kitchen, its high-caliber client list, all fixtures (which can be relocated if needed), and the recipes.
Agent's comments
Richard Finney, director at North East Commercial, said: “This is a rare opportunity, and a viewing is advised to fully appreciate the scope and potential of this brand and product. The business effectively has a monopoly within the region, and Le Mini Macaron attends local food and drink festivals where there are rarely any competitors. Market equipment will be included in the sale, and the business has regular stalls at Jesmond Food Market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month together with a pitch every Sunday on the Newcastle Quayside Market.
“All intellectual property will be included in the transfer and will comprise the website and email address, the recipes and all client contacts and contracts. A full handover would be provided.
“The mother and daughter operation has a couple of staff assisting. However, the daughter has just had a baby and will not be able to commit the time required going forward, particularly for the food markets and festivals.
“We think that another artisan baker could bolt it on to an existing operation: it would guarantee pitches at various food markets and festivals as well as the added prestige of having Fenwick as a customer.
“The delivery element, wedding services could be scaled up significantly – and the business does hardly any advertising or marketing. It could be a Tik Tok sensation!”
